PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Federico Corelli

Publications and source records attributed to Federico Corelli.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 4-alkylamino-6-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-methylthiopyrimidines as new rubella virus inhibitors.

In the search for new chemotherapeutic agents useful against Rubella virus (RV) infections, a solution-phase parallel approach for the synthesis of a small library of 4-alkylamino-6-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-methylthiopyrimidines has been set up, based on previous results from our research group. Biological evaluation of the newly synthesized compounds pointed out their interesting properties as anti-RV agents with IC(50) values in the micromolar range.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Simplified analogues of immucillin-G retain potent human purine nucleoside phosphorylase inhibitory activity.

A set of deazaguanine derivatives 1-3 targeting human purine nucleoside phosphorylase (hPNP) have been designed and synthesized. The new compounds are characterized by the presence of a structurally simplified "azasugar" motif to be more easily accessible by chemical synthesis than previous inhibitors. In the enzymatic assays, some of the new derivatives proved to be able to inhibit hPNP at low nanomolar concentration, thereby showing the same inhibitory potency in vitro as immucillin-H (IMH). Molecular docking experiments revealed a binding mode to hPNP essentially identical to that of IMH. As a result, the lower in vivo activity exhibited by 1d, compared with that exhibited by IMH, might be ascribed to differences in the pharmacokinetic, rather than pharmacodynamic, profile between these compounds. Derivatives 1a, 1d, and 2c emerged as the most active compounds within this new set and may represent interesting leads in the search for novel hPNP inhibitors.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed2006

Pharmacophore based receptor modeling: the case of adenosine A3 receptor antagonists. An approach to the optimization of protein models.

To design and synthesize new potent and selective antagonists of the human A(3) adenosine receptor, pharmacophoric hypotheses were generated with the software Catalyst for a comprehensive set of compounds retrieved from previous literature. Three of these pharmacophores were used to drive the optimization of a molecular model of the receptor built by homology modeling. The alignment of the ligands proposed by Catalyst was then used to manually dock a set of known A(3) antagonists into the binding site, and as a result, the model was able to explain the different binding mode of very active compounds with respect to less active ones and to reproduce, with good accuracy, free energies of binding. The docking highlighted that the nonconserved residue Tyr254 could play an important role for A(3) selectivity, suggesting that a mutagenesis study on this residue could be of interest in this respect. The reliability of the whole approach was successfully tested by rational design and synthesis of new compounds.

Adenosine A3 Receptor Antagonists↗
PubMed2006

A combination of docking/dynamics simulations and pharmacophoric modeling to discover new dual c-Src/Abl kinase inhibitors.

A computational protocol was applied to identify molecular scaffolds untested toward the c-Src tyrosine kinase. A combination of docking and dynamics calculations allowed us to build three-dimensional models of the complexes between Src and several of its known inhibitors. Interactions most contributing to activity of the inhibitors, in terms of hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic contacts, were codified into pharmacophoric models that were in turn applied to perform a search of commercially available compounds within the Asinex database. As a result, we identified 1,3,4-thiadiazoles and pyrazolydine-3,5-diones showing inhibitory activity in the submicromolar range in a cell-free assay toward Src. Moreover, since several of the compounds used to generate pharmacophores were also known as Abl inhibitors, we tested the identified hits toward Abl tyrosine kinase, finding activity in the submicromolar range. Such biological data suggested that the computational protocol is an efficient tool for identifying new hits toward both Src and Abl.

CSK Tyrosine-Protein Kinase↗
PubMed2006

Ligand-based virtual screening, parallel solution-phase and microwave-assisted synthesis as tools to identify and synthesize new inhibitors of mycobacterium tuberculosis.

In an attempt to identify new inhibitors of the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), the causative agent of tuberculosis, a procedure for the generation, design, and screening of a ligand-based virtual library was applied. This used both an in silico protocol centered on a recursive partitioning (RP) model described herein, and a pharmacophoric model for antitubercular agents previously generated by our research group. Two candidates emerged from databases of commercially available compounds, both characterized by a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 25 microg mL(-1). Based on these compounds, two series of derivatives were synthesized by both parallel solution-phase and microwave-assisted synthesis, leading to enhanced antimycobacterial activity. During both the design and synthesis, attention was focused on the efficient allocation of available resources with the aim of reducing the overall costs associated with calculation and synthesis.

Antitubercular Agents↗
PubMed2006

Flavin-containing polyamine oxidase is a hydrogen peroxide source in the oxidative response to the protein phosphatase inhibitor cantharidin in Zea mays L.

In this study, the specific contribution of polyamine oxidase (PAO), a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-producing enzyme, to the oxidative burst induced in maize mesocotyl by the phosphatase inhibitor cantharidin was examined. For this purpose, a pharmacological approach was applied using, either in vitro or in vivo, two strong inhibitors of maize PAO (MPAO), N-prenylagmatine (G3) and its structural analogue Ro5, as well as diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), an inhibitor of the phagocyte NAD(P)H oxidase. DPI was shown to be a good MPAO inhibitor in vitro. G3, Ro5, and DPI were very effective in inhibiting in vivo the extracellular accumulation of H2O2 that is released by mesocotyl segments upon spermidine supply. G3 and Ro5 did not show any inhibition in vitro of either horseradish peroxidase or barley oxalate oxidase. Moreover, G3 and Ro5 did not inhibit the extracellular accumulation of superoxide radical that is released in vivo upon NADH supply. G3, Ro5, and DPI strongly affected H2O2 production induced in maize mesocotyl by cantharidin. Histochemical localization of H2O2 in cantharidin-treated mesocotyl cross-sections revealed an increase of H2O2-specific staining in the epidermal and subepidermal tissues. The effect was also inhibited by G3 and DPI. Moreover, an increase in MPAO activity was observed in the same tissues upon cantharidin treatment. All these data suggest that G3 and Ro5 behave as powerful and selective inhibitors of MPAO activity either in vitro or in vivo and that MPAO activity contributes to a major part of the cantharidin-induced H2O2 synthesis in the apoplastic milieu of maize mesocotyl.

Agmatine↗
PubMed2005

Parallel solution-phase and microwave-assisted synthesis of new S-DABO derivatives endowed with subnanomolar anti-HIV-1 activity.

A simple and efficient methodology for the parallel solution-phase synthesis has been set up to obtain a series of thiouracils, in turn selectively S-benzylated under microwave irradiation to give new S-DABOs. Biological screening led to the identification of compounds with nanomolar activity toward both the highly purified recombinant human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) enzyme (wild-type and mutants) and wild-type (wt) and mutant HIV-1 strains. In particular, 20 was found to be the most potent S-DABO reported so far (ID50 = 26 nM toward the isolated wt enzyme) with subnanomolar activity toward both the wt and the pluriresistant virus (IRLL98) HIV-1 strain (EC50 < 0.14 nM and EC50 = 0.22 nM, respectively). Molecular modeling calculations were also performed to investigate the binding mode of such compounds onto the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor binding site and to rationalize the relationships between their chemical structure and activity values toward wt RT.

Anti-HIV Agents↗
PubMed2005

Antifungal agents. 11. N-substituted derivatives of 1-[(aryl)(4-aryl-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)methyl]-1H-imidazole: synthesis, anti-Candida activity, and QSAR studies.

1-[(Aryl)(4-aryl-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)methyl]-1H-imidazoles were recently reported by our group as potent anti-Candida agents belonging to the antifungal azole class. In the present paper the synthesis, anti-Candida activities, and QSAR studies on a novel series of N-substituted 1-[(aryl)(4-aryl-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)methyl]-1H-imidazole derivatives are reported. The newly synthesized azoles were tested against 12 strains of Candida albicans together with bifonazole, miconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole, and compounds 1a, 1b, 3a, 3b, and 3c used as reference drugs. In general, tested derivatives showed good antifungal activities, and the most potent compound was 1d (MIC(90) = 0.032 microg/mL), which was from 4- to 250-fold more potent than reference drugs. Catalyst software was applied to develop a quantitative pharmacophore model to be used for the rational design of new antifungal azoles. Some key interactions, as well as excluded volumes, further to the coordination bond of azole antifungals with the demethylase enzyme, are highlighted.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed2005

A new linker for anchoring/masking primary amines on solid support.

A polymer-supported diketone was synthesized and used to fully protect/mask primary amines by the formation of a pyrrole ring. Various reactions can be performed on this system which then can be cleaved with full restoration of the amine functionality. The resin can also be recycled at least once without loss of purity of the final compound. [structure: see text]

Amines↗
PubMed2005

Combinatorial chemistry as a tool for targeting different stages of the replicative HIV-1 cycle.

In the present era, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the most fatal disorder for which no completely successful chemotherapy has been developed so far. The pandemic spread of this disease has prompted an unprecedented scientific and clinical effort to understand and combat it. A number of targets has been identified to stop the replication of the virus at different stages of its life cycle: Reverse Transcriptase (RT), protease (PR) and CCR5 are the most promising targets. Although highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has been effective in reducing the mortality and morbidity in recent years, adverse side effects of the chemotherapy, patient non-compliance and the development of viral resistance remain major problems. With the aim to find better drug candidates with minor adverse side effects in recent years, several groups have investigated combinatorial approaches for the generation of libraries of HIV PR inhibitors while only few contributions to the preparation of libraries of HIV Reverse Transcriptase (RT) and CCR5 inhibitors are available. This review summarizes the recent developments of combinatorial chemistry in this area.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Molecular basis for the binding of competitive inhibitors of maize polyamine oxidase.

Maize polyamine oxidase (MPAO), the only member of the polyamine oxidase (PAO) family whose three-dimensional structure is known, is characterized by a 30 A long U-shaped catalytic tunnel located between the substrate binding domain and the FAD. To shed light on the MPAO ligand binding mode, we studied the inhibition properties of linear diamines, agmatine, prenylagmatine (G3), G3 analogues, and guazatine, and analyzed the structural determinants of their biological activity. Linear diamines competitively inhibited MPAO, with the inhibitory activity increasing as a function of the number of methylene groups. With regard to the guanidino competitive inhibitors, including agmatine, G3, and G3 analogues, the presence of a hydrophobic substituent constitutes the principal factor influencing MPAO inhibition, as the addition of a hydrophobic substituent to the guanidino group of both G3 and G3 analogues greatly increases the inhibitory activity. Moreover, results obtained by a molecular modeling procedure indicated that in their preferred orientation, G3 analogues point the ammonium group toward the narrow entrance of the tunnel, while the terminal hydrophobic group is located within the large entrance. The high binding affinity for MPAO exhibited by G3 and G3 analogues bearing a prenyl group as a substituent on the guanidino moiety is in agreement with the observation that the prenyl group binds in a well-defined hydrophobic pocket, mainly formed by aromatic residues. Finally, docking simulations performed with the charged and uncharged forms of MPAO inhibitors indicate that the stereoelectronic properties of the MPAO active site are consistent with the binding of inhibitors in the protonated form.

Agmatine↗
PubMed2004

Microwave-assisted synthesis and biological evaluation of novel uracil derivatives inhibiting human thymidine phosphorylase.

New 5-chloro-6-substituted-uracil derivatives have been prepared by microwave assisted-synthesis and tested in vitro as thymidine phosphorylase inhibitors. One of these compounds showed potent inhibitory activity, with an IC50 value in the submicromolar range. The biological activity of the new compounds is discussed in terms of structure-activity relationship.

Drug Evaluation, Preclinical↗
PubMed2004

3D QSAR models of interactions between beta-tubulin and microtubule stabilizing antimitotic agents (MSAA): a survey on taxanes and epothilones.

In the last two decades, paclitaxel (Taxol), 1) has dominated the anticancer chemotherapy as one of the most important antimitotic agents. Despite its clinical success, it presents some limitations due to its low aqueous solubility or multidrug-resistance (MDR) susceptibility. Among new compounds sharing paclitaxel's mechanism of action, epothilones have emerged as very promising candidates and are currently under clinical trials. While the electron crystallography (EC) structure of tubulin with embedded paclitaxel is available, only hypotheses about epothilone binding upon the protein may be advanced. This review illustrates our efforts in the minireceptor modeling approach as the most recent advances in the field of three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D QSAR) studies involving taxanes, epothilones and the corresponding protein environment.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonists. 6. Structural optimization of pyridazinone-arylpiperazines. Study of the influence on affinity and selectivity of cyclic substituents at the pyridazinone ring and alkoxy groups at the arylpiperazine moiety.

In continuing our search for selective alpha(1)-adrenoceptor (AR) antagonists, we have synthesized new alkoxyarylpiperazinylalkylpyridazinone derivatives. The new compounds were tested for their affinity toward alpha(1)- and alpha(2)-AR and toward the 5-HT(1A) receptor. alpha(1)-AR affinity data are in the subnanomolar range, with 3 showing an affinity of 0.052 nM, about 5-fold higher than prazosin. None of the studied compounds was found to be alpha(1)/alpha(2) selective, but 8 showed an interesting 5-HT(1A)/alpha(1) affinity ratio of 119.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗
PubMed2003

Research on L-nucleosides. Synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of L- and D-2',3'-dideoxy-3'-[tris(methylthio)methyl]-beta-pentofuranosyl nucleosides.

Novel nucleoside analogues of both D and L enantiomeric series were prepared by coupling reaction between a 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-modified furanose moiety and four different nucleobases. Though in all cases anomeric mixtures of nucleosides were obtained, the presence of the sterically bulky 3'-tris(methylthio)methyl group allowed a good stereoselectivity level. All the compounds of both enantiomeric series showed high IC(50) values as HSV-1 TK inhibitors and scarce ability to be phosphorylated by HSV-1 TK. In order to overcome possible problems related to the first phosphorylation step and to facilitate the penetration of the molecule through the cellular membrane, a monophosphate prodrug containing a long lipophilic chain was synthesized. No appreciable antiviral activity was exhibited by this molecule.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed2003

3D QSAR studies of the interaction between beta-tubulin and microtubule stabilizing antimitotic agents (MSAA). A combined pharmacophore generation and pseudoreceptor modeling approach applied to taxanes and epothilones.

Based on the conformer of paclitaxel extracted from the experimental tubulin structure, a pharmacophoric model has been generated and used to find the chemical features common to the taxane and epothilone classes of compounds. This original alignment has been translated into the experimental tubulin binding site obtaining an assembly subsequently submitted to the pseudoreceptor modeling approach. As a result, an original 3D QSAR model, able to evaluate, at a quantitative level, the relationships between the molecular structures and biological data of the studied compounds, has been obtained.

Antineoplastic Agents↗