This proposal is a continuation of our synthetic efforts in indole alkaloids that have significant pharmacological activity for clinical use. It describes two projects in syntheses of novel agents with specific anti-cancer activity and one project for generation of anti- addiction agents that are free of tremorigenic toxicity. In one anti-cancer project we continue efforts to optimize our established ability to activate noncytotoxic, atropisomeric pro-drugs by thermal or ultrasound procedures for site-activation chemotherapy. In addition, we extend in this project our initial discovery of vinblastine/vincristine congeners that lack the neurotoxicity of the parent anti-cancer drugs, to establishment of structural requirements for this selective anti-cancer activity. A second project is directed at syntheses of the pauciflorines, a new and structurally novel class of indoline alkaloids that have been shown to be potent inhibitors of melanin biosynthesis in melanoma. Syntheses of close analogues and simplified structures will provide a first indication of structure/activity requirements, which may be exploited for syntheses of melanoma specific targeting agents. For the generation of new anti-addiction drugs, we will isolate receptor proteins for our active coronaridine-type structures through the synthesis of congeners that can be used for affinity chromatography and we will extend our initial successful structure/activity studies. We expect to improve on our initial candidate, 18-methoxycoronaridine (which shows promising long-term effect against morphine, cocaine, nicotine and alcohol addiction in rats, is non-toxic, and is to start in clinical trials this year).

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA012010-39
Application #
6341809
Study Section
Medicinal Chemistry Study Section (MCHA)
Program Officer
Lees, Robert
Project Start
1975-03-01
Project End
2002-12-31
Budget Start
2001-01-01
Budget End
2001-12-31
Support Year
39
Fiscal Year
2001
Total Cost
$346,891
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Vermont & St Agric College
Department
Chemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
066811191
City
Burlington
State
VT
Country
United States
Zip Code
05405
Pace, Christopher J; Glick, Stanley D; Maisonneuve, Isabelle M et al. (2004) Novel iboga alkaloid congeners block nicotinic receptors and reduce drug self-administration. Eur J Pharmacol 492:159-67
Kuehne, Martin E; He, Liwen; Jokiel, Patrick A et al. (2003) Synthesis and biological evaluation of 18-methoxycoronaridine congeners. Potential antiaddiction agents. J Med Chem 46:2716-30
Kuehne, Martin E; Bornmann, William G; Marko, Istvan et al. (2003) Syntheses and biological evaluation of vinblastine congeners. Org Biomol Chem 1:2120-36
Zhang, Wenjiang; Ramamoorthy, Yamini; Tyndale, Rachel F et al. (2003) Interaction of buprenorphine and its metabolite norbuprenorphine with cytochromes p450 in vitro. Drug Metab Dispos 31:768-72
Zhang, Wenjiang; Ramamoorthy, Yamini; Tyndale, Rachel F et al. (2002) Metabolism of 18-methoxycoronaridine, an ibogaine analog, to 18-hydroxycoronaridine by genetically variable CYP2C19. Drug Metab Dispos 30:663-9
Gruol, Donald J; King, Miranda N; Kuehne, Martin E (2002) Evidence for the locations of distinct steroid and Vinca alkaloid interaction domains within the murine mdr1b P-glycoprotein. Mol Pharmacol 62:1238-48
Kuehne, M E; Dai, W; Li, Y L (2001) New ferrocenyl chiral auxiliary substituents for amines: applications to syntheses of mossambine and vinblastine. J Org Chem 66:1560-6
Kuehne, M E; Qin, Y; Huot, A E et al. (2001) The syntheses of 16a'-homo-leurosidine and 16a'-homo-vinblastine. Generation of atropisomers. J Org Chem 66:5317-28
Kuehne, M E; Cowen, S D; Xu, F et al. (2001) Syntheses of 5a'-homo-vinblastine and congeners designed to establish structural determinants for isolation of atropisomers. J Org Chem 66:5303-16
Kuehne, M E; Li, Y L; Wei, C Q (2000) Biogenetic syntheses of kopsijasminilam and deoxykopsijasminilam. J Org Chem 65:6434-40

Showing the most recent 10 out of 15 publications