title: Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of a novel class of anticancer agents: anthracenylisoxazole lexitropsin conjugates.
abstract: The synthesis and in vitro anti-tumor 60 cell lines screen of a novel series of anthracenyl isoxazole amides (AIMs) (While not a strict acronym, the designation AIM is in honor of the memory of Professor Albert I. Meyers.) (22-33) are described. The molecules consist of an isoxazole that pre-organizes a planar aromatic moiety and a simple amide and/or lexitropsin-oligopeptide. The new conjugate molecules were prepared via doubly activated amidation modification of Weinreb's amide formation technique, using SmCl(3) as an activating agent which produces improved yields for sterically hindered 3-aryl-4-isoxazolecarboxylic esters. The results of the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) 60 cell line screening assay show a distinct structure activity relationship (SAR), wherein a trend of the highest activity for molecules with one N-methylpyrrole peptide. Evidence consistent with a mechanism of action via the interaction of these compounds with G-quadruplex (G4) DNA and a structural based rational for the observed selectivity of the AIMs for G4 over B-DNA is presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, United States.
authors.forename: Xiaochun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Mosher
authors.forename: Kevin C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Rider
authors.forename: Peiwen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Ronald L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fusco
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paszczynski
authors.forename: Nicholas R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Natale
mesh_terms: D000873:Anthracenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001393:Azoles / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015195:Drug Design; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D009429:Netropsin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000873:Anthracenes; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001393:Azoles; C053654:lexitropsin; D009429:Netropsin