Sequencing therapeutics

Seeman, P (1992) Dopamine receptor sequences therapeutic levels of neuroleptics occupy D2 receptors, clozapine occupies D4. Neuropsychopharmacology 7 261-284. 

Figure 15.2. Gene expression cassette. The drawing shows the features of the expression cassette. These inciude the promoter, 5 untransiated sequence, intron, Kozak sequence, therapeutic gene, 3 untrans-iated sequence, and the poiy-adenosine signai sequence.

By similar logic, protein affinity Hbraries have been constmcted to identify protein—protein combining sites, as in antibody—antigen interaction (19) and recombinant Hbraries have been made which produce a repertoire of antibodies in E. coli (20). In another case, a potential DNA-based therapeutic strategy has been studied (21). DNAs from a partially randomized Hbrary were selected to bind thrombin in vitro. Oligonucleotides, termed aptamers that bound thrombin shared a conserved sequence 14—17 nucleotides long. 

An effective therapeutic agent must also have the abiUty to reach its target sequence m vivo. BioavailabiUty requires that the antisense oligonucleotide be able to pass through the cell membrane, and that it have a low affinity for nontarget cellular compartments and, in animal systems, nontarget organs. 

The phosphorodithioates DNA derivatives have been shown to bind specifically to complementary DNA or ENA sequences to form stable adducts. Because they are also highly resistant to degradation by cellular exonucleases, these derivatives can be useful both for appHcations in research and as therapeutic dmgs. Phosphorodithioate DNA has been shown to stimulate Rnase H activity in nuclear cell extracts and is a potent inhibitor of HIV type-1 reverse transcriptase (56). 

Though dental afflictions constitute a very significant disease entity, these have received relatively little attention from medicinal chemists. (The fluoride toothpastes may form an important exception.) This therapeutic target Is, however, sufficiently Important to be the focus of at least some research. A highly functionalized piperazine derivative that has come out of such work shows prophylactic activity against dental caries. Condensation of the enol ether 1 of thiourea with ji-pentylisocyanate gives the addition product 1J. Reaction of this with diamine 78, derived from piperazine, leads to substitution of the methylthio moiety by the primary amine, in all likelihood by an addition-elimination sequence. There is thus obtained ipexidine (79). ... 

Nanaomycin A 103 and deoxyfrenolicin 108 are members of a group of naphthoquinone antibiotics based on the isochroman skeleton. The therapeutic potential of these natural products has attracted considerable attention, and different approaches towards their synthesis have been reported [65,66]. The key step in the total synthesis of racemic nanaomycin A 103 is the chemo-and regioselective benzannulation reaction of carbene complex 101 and allylacety-lene 100 to give allyl-substituted naphthoquinone 102 after oxidative workup in 52% yield [65] (Scheme 47). The allyl functionality is crucial for a subsequent intramolecular alkoxycarbonylation to build up the isochroman structure. However, modest yields and the long sequence required to introduce the... 

Note The three reagents should be applied as quickly as possible after each other. In combination with the Ry value, and with UV detection before application of the reagent sequence this procedure allows the identification of therapeutic quantities of thiazide diuretics and methyldopa in urine together with a series of other therapeutic agents. Mobile phase residues e. g. acetic acid, should be completely removed from the chromatograms before application of the reagent sequence. 

Initial studies on short peptoid oligomers have revealed relatively poor pharmacokinetic properties [18, 79]. Despite the numerous advantageous attributes of peptoids in vitro, there are currently no peptoid-based therapeutics. However, a more thorough exploration of peptoid sequences may reveal species with more appropri-... 

These two studies in particular are important. They demonstrate that not only can Pn peptide self-assembly be adjusted by sequence modification to suit a particular ionic strength and pH (e.g. conditions found in vitro or in vivo) but that it can be also made reversible and responsive. This raises the possibility that these peptides can be used in drug delivery, or as therapeutics that self-assemble post-injection. 

---