Biomedical subjects
Paul A Clarke
Publications and source records attributed to Paul A Clarke.
A racemic synthesis of an AB-ring system of hexacyclinic acid.
[structure: see text] An AB-ring system of the polyketide natural product hexacyclinic acid has been synthesized in racemic form. The key steps were an intramolecular Diels-Alder cyclization of an ester tethered 1,3-nonadiene-8-yne, which generated the B-ring, and a samarium diiodide mediated reductive annulation, which was used to form the A-ring.
The one-pot, multi-component construction of highly substituted tetrahydropyran-4-ones using the Maitland-Japp reaction.
A one-pot, multi-component reaction for the synthesis of highly substituted tetrahydropyran-4-ones, based on the long forgotten Maitland-Japp reaction has been realised. Two different aldehydes and a derivative of a beta-ketoester can be condensed regioselectively in the presence of a Lewis acid to form tetrahydropyran-4-ones in excellent yields. The diastereoselectively of the reaction was found to be dependant upon the nature of the Lewis acid and the temperature at which the reaction was carried out. This procedure was also extended to the formation of tetrahydropyran-4-ones in greater than 95% enantiomeric excess.
Revisiting the Maitland-Japp reaction. Concise construction of highly functionalised tetrahydropyran-4-ones.
Application of modern synthetic methods to the Maitland-Japp reaction has provided a one pot, one step procedure for the efficient construction of highly substituted tetrahydropyran-4-ones.
Gene expression microarray technologies in the development of new therapeutic agents.
We review in detail how gene expression microarray technology is benefiting all phases of the discovery, development and subsequent use of new cancer therapeutics. Global gene expression profiling is valuable in cancer classification, elucidation of biochemical pathways and the identification of potential targets for novel molecular therapeutics. We exemplify the value in tissue culture and animal models of cancer, as well as in clinical studies. The power of expression profiling alongside gene knockout or knockdown methods such as RNA interference is illustrated. The use of basal or constitutive gene expression profiling to understand and predict drug sensitivity or resistance is described. The ability of expression profiling to define detailed molecular signatures of drug action is emphasised. The approach can identify on-target and off-target effects. It can be used to identify molecular biomarkers for proof of concept studies, pharmacodynamic endpoints and prognostic markers for predicting outcome and patient selection.
Mechanistic insight into the lanthanide(III) salt catalysed monoacylation of symmetrical diols from structural models.
Model studies are presented that suggest the mechanism of the lanthanide(III) salt catalysed mono acylation of symmetrical diols proceeds via chelation of the diol and the anhydride to the lanthanide salt, followed by an 'intramolecular' acyl transfer.
Molecular pharmacology of cancer therapy in human colorectal cancer by gene expression profiling.
Global gene expression profiling has potential for elucidating the complex cellular effects and mechanisms of action of novel targeted anticancer agents or existing chemotherapeutics for which the precise molecular mechanism of action may be unclear. In this study, decreased expression of genes required for RNA and protein synthesis, and for metabolism were detected in rectal cancer biopsies taken from patients during a 5-fluorouracil infusion. Our observations demonstrate that this approach is feasible and can detect responses that may have otherwise been missed by conventional methods. The results suggested new mechanism-based combination treatments for colorectal cancer and demonstrated that expression profiling could provide valuable information on the molecular pharmacology of established and novel drugs.
Genes and proteins governing the cellular sensitivity to HSP90 inhibitors: a mechanistic perspective.
HSP90 inhibitors such as 17AAG have the major therapeutic advantage that they exert downstream inhibitory effects on multiple oncogenic client proteins. They therefore block several mission critical cancer-causing pathways and have the potential to modulate all of the hallmark biological features of malignancy. Consistent with this combinatorial anti-oncogenic profile, 17AAG exhibits broad-spectrum antitumour activity against cultured cancer cell lines and in vivo animal models. However, there are clear differences in sensitivity between various cancer cell lines and it is quite possible that some tumour types or individual patients will be more responsive in the clinic than others. We describe the methods used to investigate the genes and proteins involved in the mechanism of action of HSP90 inhibitors and discuss the significance of these for cellular sensitivity. Methods used involve the conventional cell and molecular biology techniques, together with the more recent application of high throughput global technologies such as gene expression microarrays and proteomics. Selected examples that seem to play a role in sensitivity to HSP90 inhibitors are highlighted and the potential relevance to the response of cancer patients is discussed. Important determinants of response include: 1) Dependence upon key HSP90 client proteins such as ERBB2, steroid hormone receptors and AKT/PKB; 2) Levels of HSP90 family members and co-chaperones, such as HSP70 and AHA1; and 3) expression of various cell cycle and apoptotic regulators. In the case of 17AAG, metabolic enzymes such as NQO1 and membrane efflux pumps are also important for sensitivity.
Diastereoselective synthesis of highly substituted tetrahydropyran-4-ones.
[reaction: see text] Aldol reactions of beta-ketoesters with aldehydes followed by a tandem Knoevenagel condensation, with a further equivalent of aldehyde, and intramolecular Michael addition produces single diastereomers of highly substituted tetrahydropyran-4-ones.
A one-step procedure for the monoacylation of symmetrical 1,2-diols.
A series of lanthanide (III) salts have been shown to catalyze the monoacylation of symmetrical 1,2-diols by carboxylic acid anhydrides with surprisingly high selectivity.
Activation of the ATPase activity of hsp90 by the stress-regulated cochaperone aha1.
Client protein activation by Hsp90 involves a plethora of cochaperones whose roles are poorly defined. A ubiquitous family of stress-regulated proteins have been identified (Aha1, activator of Hsp90 ATPase) that bind directly to Hsp90 and are required for the in vivo Hsp90-dependent activation of clients such as v-Src, implicating them as cochaperones of the Hsp90 system. In vitro, Aha1 and its shorter homolog, Hch1, stimulate the inherent ATPase activity of yeast and human Hsp90. The identification of these Hsp90 cochaperone activators adds to the complex roles of cochaperones in regulating the ATPase-coupled conformational changes of the Hsp90 chaperone cycle.