Publications (66)159.11 Total impact
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Article: In-peptide synthesis of di-oxazolidinone and dehydroamino acid-oxazolidinone motifs as β-turn inducers.
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ABSTRACT: Small and easy-to-do mimetics of β-turns are of great interest to interfere with protein-protein recognition events mediated by β-turn recognition motifs. We propose a straightforward procedure for constraining the conformation of tetrapeptides lacking a pre-formed scaffold. According to the stereochemistry array, N-Ts tetrapeptides including Thr or PhSer (phenylserine) at the positions 2 or 3 gave rise in a single step to the sequences Oxd(2)-Oxd(3) or ΔAbu(2)-Oxd(3) (Oxd, oxazolidin-2-one; ΔAbu, 2,3-dehydro-2-aminobutyric). These pseudo-Pro residues displayed highly constrained ϕ, ψ, and χ dihedral angles, and induced clear β-turns or inverse turns of type I or II, as determined by extensive spectroscopic and computational analyses.Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry 05/2013; · 3.70 Impact Factor -
Article: Opioid Activity Profiles of Oversimplified Peptides Lacking in the Protonable N-Terminus.
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ABSTRACT: Recently, we described cyclopeptide opioid agonists containing the d-Trp-Phe sequence. To expand the scope of this atypical pharmacophore, we tested the activity profiles of the linear peptides Ac-Xaa-Phe-Yaa (Xaa = l/d-Trp, d-His/Lys/Arg; Yaa = H, GlyNH(2)). Ac-d-Trp-PheNH(2) appeared to be the minimal binding sequence, while Ac-d-Trp-Phe-GlyNH(2) emerged as the first noncationizable short peptide (partial) agonist with high μ-opioid receptor affinity and selectivity. Conformational analysis suggested that 5 adopts in solution a β-turn conformation.Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 09/2012; · 4.80 Impact Factor -
Article: Expedient synthesis of pseudo-Pro-containing peptides: towards constrained peptidomimetics and foldamers.
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ABSTRACT: The reaction of sulfonyl peptides containing L- or D-configured Ser or Thr with bis(succinimidyl) carbonate in the presence of a catalytic amount of a base affords, in solution or in the solid phase, the corresponding peptides with one or two, consecutive or alternate oxazolidin-2-ones (Oxd). The Oxd ring can be regarded to as a pseudo-Pro with an exclusively trans conformation of the preceding peptide bond; homochiral Oxd-containing peptides adopt extended conformations, while the presence of a D-configured Oxd favours folded conformations.Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry 03/2012; 10(11):2307-17. · 3.70 Impact Factor -
Article: Molecular docking of opiates and opioid peptides, a tool for the design of selective agonists and antagonists, and for the investigation of atypical ligand-receptor interactions.
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ABSTRACT: In the last years, molecular docking emerged as a powerful tool to investigate the interactions between opioid ligands and their receptors, thus driving the design and development of new selective agonists or antagonists of therapeutic interest. This review especially covers the most representative and recent comparative molecular docking analyses of structurally related compounds, as well as of agonists and antagonists within the active and inactive states of the receptors. The comparative analyses gave important information on the structural determinants responsible for the affinity and selectivity of the ligands, and defined the features responsible for the activation of the receptors. A special section is dedicated to the analyses of recently discovered, unusual agonists lacking of the tyramine pharmacophore, such as Salvinorin A, and the cyclopeptides which comprise the D-Trp-Phe pharmacophoric motif. For the atypical structure of these compounds, the docking proved to be essential to disclose how they interact with and activate the receptors.Current Medicinal Chemistry 02/2012; 19(11):1587-601. · 4.86 Impact Factor -
Article: Development of isoxazoline-containing peptidomimetics as dual αvβ3 and α5β1 integrin ligands.
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ABSTRACT: Isoxazoline-containing peptidomimetics, designed to be effective α(v)β(3) and α(5)β(1) integrin ligands, were synthesized through an original procedure involving N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)hydroxyamine conjugate addition to alkylidene acetoacetates, followed by intramolecular hemiketalization. To mimic the RGD recognition sequence, basic and acidic terminal appendages were introduced, and the final products were tested in cell adhesion inhibition assays. All the synthesized compounds proved to be excellent ligands for both integrin receptors, and a strong influence on intracellular signaling and phosphorylation pathways was demonstrated by evaluation of fibronectin-induced phosphorylation of ERK. The molecular basis of the observed inhibitory activity was suggested on the results of docking experiments.ChemMedChem 09/2011; 6(12):2264-72. · 3.15 Impact Factor -
Article: Synthesis of Constrained Peptidomimetics Containing 2‐Oxo‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐4‐carboxylic Acids
Annalen der Chemie und Pharmacie 07/2011; 2011(25):4925 - 4930. · 3.10 Impact Factor -
Article: The inverse type II β-turn on D-Trp-Phe, a pharmacophoric motif for MOR agonists.
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ABSTRACT: Herein we propose the D-Trp-Phe sequence within an inverse type II β-turn as a new kind of pharmacophoric motif for μ-opioid receptor (MOR) cyclopeptide agonists. Initially, we observed that c[Tyr-D-Pro-D-Trp-Phe-Gly] (4), an analogue of endomorphin-1 (H-Tyr-Pro-Trp-Phe-NH₂) lacking the crucial protonatable amino group of Tyr 1, is a MOR agonist with 10⁻⁸ M affinity. Molecular docking analysis suggested that the relevant interactions with the receptor involve D-Trp-Phe. The bioactive conformation of this region was investigated by selected derivatives of 4 designed to adopt an inverse type II β-turn. These efforts led to c[Tyr-Gly-D-Trp-Phe-Gly] (14) and to the cyclotetrapeptide c[D-Asp-1-amide-β-Ala-D-Trp-Phe] (15), showing improved nanomolar affinity. Both 14 and 15 selectively bind MOR, as they have negligible affinity for the κ- and δ-opioid receptors. Both 14 and 15 behave as partial MOR agonists in functional assays. Conformational and docking analyses confirm the role of the inverse β-turn in binding. These results indicate that the D-Trp-Phe inverse β-turn structure can be used for designing non-endomorphin-like peptidomimetic opioid agonists in general, characterized by an atypical mechanism of interaction between ligand and receptor.ChemMedChem 06/2011; 6(9):1640-53. · 3.15 Impact Factor -
Article: A straightforward route to enantiopure 2-substituted-3,4-dehydro-β-proline via ring closing metathesis.
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ABSTRACT: The synthesis of unusual cyclic amino acids, that may be envisaged as proline analogs, is an area of great interest for their potential applications as scaffolds for the design of bioactive peptidomimetics or units for the creation of novel foldamers. We have carried out the preparation of cyclic dehydro-β-amino acids starting from allylic carbonates via a two-step allylic amination/ring closing metathesis (RCM) protocol. The introduction of the allylamino moiety has been carried out either without a catalyst, through an S(N)2' reaction, or in the presence of iridium complexes. The backbone of the allylamino intermediates contains two unsaturations, thus suggesting that RCM could be a valuable tool for the preparation of dihydropyrrole scaffolds. A similar reaction has been already reported in the literature for racemic aromatic-substituted substrates, but no examples of enantiopure derivatives bearing aliphatic chains have been reported. The reaction was optimized by testing different Grubbs' catalysts and carbamate nitrogen protecting groups. Moreover, in view of a future application of these dehydro-β-amino acids as central core of peptidomimetics, the malonate chain was also used to protect nitrogen prior to RCM.Amino Acids 05/2011; 41(3):575-86. · 3.25 Impact Factor -
Article: Peripheral antinociceptive effects of the cyclic endomorphin-1 analog c[YpwFG] in a mouse visceral pain model.
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ABSTRACT: We previously described a novel cyclic endomorphin-1 analog c[Tyr-D-Pro-D-Trp-Phe-Gly] (c[YpwFG]), acting as a mu-opioid receptor (MOR) agonist. This study reports that c[YpwFG] is more lipophilic and resistant to enzymatic hydrolysis than endomorphin-1 and produces preemptive antinociception in a mouse visceral pain model when injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) or subcutaneously (s.c.) before 0.6% acetic acid, employed to evoke abdominal writhing (i.p. ED(50)=1.24 mg/kg; s.c. ED(50)=2.13 mg/kg). This effect is reversed by the selective MOR antagonist β-funaltrexamine and by a high dose of the mu(1)-opioid receptor-selective antagonist naloxonazine. Conversely, the kappa-opioid receptor antagonist nor-binaltorphimine and the delta-opioid receptor antagonist naltrindole are ineffective. c[YpwFG] produces antinociception when injected i.p. after acetic acid (ED(50)=4.80 mg/kg), and only at a dose of 20mg/kg did it elicit a moderate antinociceptive response in the mouse, evaluated by the tail flick assay. Administration of a lower dose of c[YpwFG] (10mg/kg i.p.) apparently produces a considerable part of antinociception on acetic acid-induced writhes through peripheral opioid receptors as this action is fully prevented by i.p. naloxone methiodide, which does not readily cross the blood-brain barrier; whereas this opioid antagonist injected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) is not effective. Antinociception produced by a higher dose of c[YpwFG] (20mg/kg i.p.) is partially reversed by naloxone methiodide i.c.v. administered. Thus, only at the dose of 20mg/kg c[YpwFG] can produce antinociception through both peripheral and central opioid receptors. In conclusion, c[YpwFG] displays sufficient metabolic stability to be effective after peripheral administration and demonstrates the therapeutic potential of endomorphin derivatives as novel analgesic agents to control visceral pain.Peptides 11/2010; 31(11):2135-40. · 2.43 Impact Factor -
Article: Antiangiogenic effect of dual/selective alpha(5)beta(1)/alpha(v)beta(3) integrin antagonists designed on partially modified retro-inverso cyclotetrapeptide mimetics.
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ABSTRACT: Recent evidence highlighted the role of alpha(5)beta(1) integrin in angiogenesis and in regulating alpha(v)beta(3) integrin function. As a consequence, selective alpha(5)beta(1) integrin inhibitors or dual alpha(5)beta(1)/alpha(v)beta(3) integrin inhibitors are considered promising candidates for the development of cancer therapeutic agents. In this paper, we describe the synthesis and pharmacological characterization of a minilibrary of cyclotetrapeptide mimetics containing a PMRI Arg-Gly-Asp sequence. In particular, c[(R)-betaPhepsi(NHCO)Asppsi(NHCO)Gly-Arg] (3) displayed a good activity in inhibiting the alpha(v)beta(3) integrin-mediated cell adhesion of fibronectin or vitronectin, as well as the adhesion of fibronectin to the alpha(5)beta(1) integrin. Interestingly, the diastereomeric compound c[(S)-betaPhepsi(NHCO)Asppsi(NHCO)Gly-Arg] (2) maintained a good efficacy in inhibiting alpha(5)beta(1) integrin while gaining a certain selectivity over alpha(v)beta(3) integrin. These two integrin antagonists significantly inhibited bFGF-induced human endothelial cell tube formation at submicromolar concentrations. Conformational analysis and Molecular Docking calculations suggest that the different alpha(5)beta(1) versus alpha(v)beta(3) selectivity of 2 and 3 can be rationalized on the basis of the alternative display of the aromatic side chain adjacent to Asp.Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 01/2010; 53(1):106-18. · 4.80 Impact Factor -
Article: Chemical modifications designed to improve peptide stability: incorporation of non-natural amino acids, pseudo-peptide bonds, and cyclization.
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ABSTRACT: Functions and properties of native peptides vary from highly specific antibiotics or cytotoxic antitumor drugs, to hormones, neurotransmitters, immunomodulators, etc. Despite their potential utility as therapeutic agents, there are problems connected with the use of natural peptides, due to the low stability against proteolysis, resulting in a short duration of in vivo activity, and in a low bioavailability. One way to overcome these disadvantages is the use of modified peptides, the so called peptidomimetics. Overall, the less peptide character in a drug candidate, the more stable it is towards protease cleavage. A huge number of non-peptidic scaffolds have been reported in the literature; nevertheless, several cases have failed to reproduce the activity of the precursor peptide when the scaffold itself contains relevant pharmacophore elements. Therefore, quasi-peptides still maintain their appeal for applications in medicinal chemistry. For the large number of different unnatural amino acids and peptidomimetics, the overview cannot be all-inclusive. This review focuses on modified peptides in which the peptide character is still preponderant, with particular emphasis on the chemical methodologies utilized to introduce the modifications.Current pharmaceutical design 01/2010; 16(28):3185-203. · 4.41 Impact Factor -
Article: Cyclopeptide analogs for generating new molecular and 3D diversity.
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ABSTRACT: Cyclic peptides have been often utilized as metabolically stable, conformationally restricted mimics of different kinds of biologically active peptides, including peptide antibiotics, endogenous opioid peptides, integrin inhibitors, peptide hormones, anticancer peptides, and so on. And in particular, cyclic compounds which can mimic important secondary structure elements such as beta-turns are of outstanding importance. Since greater chemical and structural diversity are primary features to pursue for finding novel leads for pharmacological and biotechnological applications, we explored the potential utility of the retro-inverso modification. We introduced this modification into the sequence of 13-membered cyclotetrapeptides, which can be regarded as easily available, conformationally stable analogs of cyclotetrapeptides composed of all alpha-residues. In this paper we describe the synthesis of a selected mini-library of partially modified retro-inverso cyclic peptides as conformationally homogeneous scaffolds for medicinal chemistry applications. The different compounds have been obtained by simple scramble of the same residues. Finally, we discuss the conformational features of such molecules as turn mimics. The comparison suggests that the retro-inverso modification allows a higher degree of three-dimensional diversity than normal peptides.Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening 12/2009; 12(10):929-39. · 2.46 Impact Factor -
Article: Cyclopeptide Analogs for Generating New Molecular and 3D Diversity
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ABSTRACT: Cyclic peptides have been often utilized as metabolically stable, conformationally restricted mimics of different kinds of biologically active peptides, including peptide antibiotics, endogenous opioid peptides, integrin inhibitors, peptide hormones, anticancer peptides, and so on. And in particular, cyclic compounds which can mimic important secondary structure elements such as β-turns are of outstanding importance. Since greater chemical and structural diversity are primary features to pursue for finding novel leads for pharmacological and biotechnological applications, we explored the potential utility of the retro-inverso modification. We introduced this modification into the sequence of 13- membered cyclotetrapeptides, which can be regarded as easily available, conformationally stable analogs of cyclotetrapeptides composed of all α-residues. In this paper we describe the synthesis of a selected mini-library of partially modified retro-inverso cyclic peptides as conformationally homogeneous scaffolds for medicinal chemistry applications. The different compounds have been obtained by simple scramble of the same residues. Finally, we discuss the conformational features of such molecules as turn mimics. The comparison suggests that the retro-inverso modification allows a higher degree of three-dimensional diversity than normal peptides.Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening 11/2009; 12(10):929-939. · 1.78 Impact Factor -
Article: Antiangiogenic Effect of Dual/Selective α5β1/αvβ3 Integrin Antagonists Designed on Partially Modified Retro-Inverso Cyclotetrapeptide Mimetics
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ABSTRACT: Recent evidence highlighted the role of α5β1 integrin in angiogenesis and in regulating αvβ3 integrin function. As a consequence, selective α5β1 integrin inhibitors or dual α5β1/αvβ3 integrin inhibitors are considered promising candidates for the development of cancer therapeutic agents. In this paper, we describe the synthesis and pharmacological characterization of a minilibrary of cyclotetrapeptide mimetics containing a PMRI Arg-Gly-Asp sequence. In particular, c[(R)-βPheψ(NHCO)Aspψ(NHCO)Gly-Arg] (3) displayed a good activity in inhibiting the αvβ3 integrin-mediated cell adhesion of fibronectin or vitronectin, as well as the adhesion of fibronectin to the α5β1 integrin. Interestingly, the diastereomeric compound c[(S)-βPheψ(NHCO)Aspψ(NHCO)Gly-Arg] (2) maintained a good efficacy in inhibiting α5β1 integrin while gaining a certain selectivity over αvβ3 integrin. These two integrin antagonists significantly inhibited bFGF-induced human endothelial cell tube formation at submicromolar concentrations. Conformational analysis and Molecular Docking calculations suggest that the different α5β1 versus αvβ3 selectivity of 2 and 3 can be rationalized on the basis of the alternative display of the aromatic side chain adjacent to Asp.11/2009; -
Article: Dehydro‐β‐amino Acid Containing Peptides as Promising Sequences for Drug Development
Annalen der Chemie und Pharmacie 10/2009; 2009(34):5991 - 5997. · 3.10 Impact Factor -
Chapter: Asymmetric Synthesis of Three‐ and Four‐Membered Ring Heterocycles
08/2009: pages 1 - 50; , ISBN: 9783527625505 -
Article: Synthesis and conformational analysis of cyclotetrapeptide mimetic beta-turn templates and validation as 3D scaffolds.
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ABSTRACT: The conformations of all stereoisomers of PMRI cyclotetrapeptide mimetics 1-8 are essentially determined by the predisposition of the diamine to stabilize beta-turns. The peptide mimetics can be regarded as 3D scaffolds for designing molecules with a predictable display of the pharmacophores. We used the models for testing novel RGD analogues as alpha(v)beta(3)-integrin receptor antagonists.ChemMedChem 03/2009; 4(4):517-23. · 3.15 Impact Factor -
Article: The Cycloaddition Reaction Between α‐Bromo Vinylketenes and Imines: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study
Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis 09/2008; 350(14‐15):2261 - 2273. · 6.05 Impact Factor -
Article: Synthesis of dehydro-beta-amino esters via highly regioselective amination of allylic carbonates.
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ABSTRACT: The allylic amination of acetates and carbonates affords dehydro-beta-aminoesters, which are useful precursors of biologically active compounds. The uncatalyzed reaction proceeds via a S(N)2' mechanism. On the other hand, under palladium-catalyzed conditions, the reaction shows a strong solvent-dependent regiocontrol, affording exclusively one of the two possible regioisomers with complete transfer of chirality from the substrates to the products.Organic Letters 07/2008; 10(12):2425-8. · 5.86 Impact Factor -
Article: Investigation of the interaction between the atypical agonist c[YpwFG] and MOR.
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ABSTRACT: Endogenous and exogenous opiates are currently considered the drugs of choice for treating different kinds of pain. However, their prolonged use produces several adverse symptoms, and in addition, many forms of pain are resistant to any kind of therapy. Therefore, the discovery of compounds active towards mu-opioid receptors (MORs) by alternative pharmacological mechanisms could be of value for developing novel classes of analgesics. There is evidence that some unusual molecules can bind opioid receptors, albeit lacking some of the typical opioid pharmacophoric features. In particular, the recent discovery of a few compounds that showed agonist behavior even in the absence of the primary pharmacophore, namely a protonable amine, led to a rediscussion of the importance of ionic interactions in stabilizing the ligand-receptor complex and in activating signal transduction. Very recently, we synthesized a library of cyclic analogs of the endogenous, MOR-selective agonist endomorphin-1 (YPWF-NH(2)), containing a Gly5 bridge between Tyr1 and Phe4. The cyclopeptide c[YpwFG] showed good affinity and agonist behavior. This atypical MOR agonist does not have the protonable Tyr amine. In order to gain more information about plausible mechanisms of interaction between c[YpwFG] and the opioid receptor, we synthesized a selected set of derivatives containing different bridges between Tyr1 and Phe4, and tested their affinities towards mu-opioid receptors. We performed conformational analysis of the cyclopeptides by NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics, and investigated plausible, unprecedented modes of interaction with the MOR by molecular docking. The successive quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics investigation of the complexes obtained by the molecular docking procedure furnished a more detailed description of the binding mode and the electronic properties of the ligands. The comparison with the binding mode of the potent agonist JOM-6 seems to indicate that the cyclic endomorphin-1 analogs interact with the receptor by way of an alternative mechanism, still maintaining the ability to activate the receptor.FEBS Journal 06/2008; 275(9):2315-37. · 3.79 Impact Factor
Top co-authors
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Institutions
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2004–2012
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University of Bologna
- "Giacomo Ciamician" Department of Chemistry CHIM
Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
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2009
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Université Paris Descartes
Paris, Ile-de-France, France
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