Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Medicinal-Pharmaceutical Chemistry Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 8 of 8

Full-Text Articles in Medicinal-Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Computational Design And Molecular Modeling Of Morphine Derivatives For Preferential Binding In Inflamed Tissue, Makena Augenstein, Nayiri Alexander, Matthew Gartner Apr 2023

Computational Design And Molecular Modeling Of Morphine Derivatives For Preferential Binding In Inflamed Tissue, Makena Augenstein, Nayiri Alexander, Matthew Gartner

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

The opioid epidemic has impacted over 10 million Americans in 2019. Opioids, like morphine, bind non-selectively in both peripheral tissue, leading to effective pain relief, and central tissue, resulting in dangerous side effects and addiction. The inflamed conditions of injured tissues have a lower pH (pH = 6–6.5) environment than healthy tissue (pH = 7.4). We aim to design a morphine derivative that binds selectively within inflamed tissue using molecular extension and dissection techniques. Morphine binds to the μ-opioid receptor (MOR) when the biochemically active amine group is protonated. Fluorination of a β-carbon from the tertiary amine group led to …


Effects Of Cannabinoids On Ligand-Gated Ion Channels, Murat Oz, Keun-Hang Susan Yang, Mohamed Omer Mahgoub Oct 2022

Effects Of Cannabinoids On Ligand-Gated Ion Channels, Murat Oz, Keun-Hang Susan Yang, Mohamed Omer Mahgoub

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Phytocannabinoids such as Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol, endocannabinoids such as N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol, and synthetic cannabinoids such as CP47,497 and JWH-018 constitute major groups of structurally diverse cannabinoids. Along with these cannabinoids, CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors and enzymes involved in synthesis and degradation of endocannabinoids comprise the major components of the cannabinoid system. Although, cannabinoid receptors are known to be involved in anti-convulsant, anti-nociceptive, anti-psychotic, anti-emetic, and anti-oxidant effects of cannabinoids, in recent years, an increasing number of studies suggest that, at pharmacologically relevant concentrations, these compounds interact with several molecular targets including G-protein coupled receptors, ion …


The Mechanism Of Β-N-Methylamino-L-Alanine Inhibition Of Trna Aminoacylation And Its Impact On Misincorporation, Nien-Ching Han, Tammy J. Bullwinkle, Kaeli F. Loeb, Kym F. Faull, Kyle Mohler, Jesse Rinehart, Michael Ibba Jan 2021

The Mechanism Of Β-N-Methylamino-L-Alanine Inhibition Of Trna Aminoacylation And Its Impact On Misincorporation, Nien-Ching Han, Tammy J. Bullwinkle, Kaeli F. Loeb, Kym F. Faull, Kyle Mohler, Jesse Rinehart, Michael Ibba

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) is a nonproteinogenic amino acid that has been associated with neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). BMAA has been found in human protein extracts; however, the mechanism by which it enters the proteome is still unclear. It has been suggested that BMAA is misincorporated at serine codons during protein synthesis, but direct evidence of its cotranslational incorporation is currently lacking. Here, using LC-MS–purified BMAA and several biochemical assays, we sought to determine whether any aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS) utilizes BMAA as a substrate for aminoacylation. Despite BMAA's previously predicted misincorporation at serine …


Design And Synthesis Of Core–Shell Microgels With One‐Step Clickable Crosslinked Cores And Ultralow Crosslinked Shells, Molla R. Islam, Chelsea Nguy, Sanika Pandit, L. Andrew Lyon Sep 2020

Design And Synthesis Of Core–Shell Microgels With One‐Step Clickable Crosslinked Cores And Ultralow Crosslinked Shells, Molla R. Islam, Chelsea Nguy, Sanika Pandit, L. Andrew Lyon

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

The present study is conducted to explore the engineering of core–shell microgels such that the core can be rapidly labeled with a variety of fluorophores, while the shell retains the softness needed in specific biomedical applications. Azide containing crosslinked core particles based on a crosslinked poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) particle, using a one‐pot, multistep polymerization is synthesized. A core–shell microgel is then synthesized by growing a crosslinker‐free poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐co‐acrylic acid (ULC10AAc) shell through a two‐step seed and feed polymerization. A simple “click” reaction between the azide present on the core and dibenzocyclooctyne containing fluorophores to make dyed core–shell …


Peroxiredoxin Catalysis At Atomic Resolution, Arden Perkins, Derek Parsonage, Kimberly J. Nelson, O. Maduka Ogba, Paul Ha-Yeon Cheong, Leslie B. Poole, P. Andrew Karplus Sep 2016

Peroxiredoxin Catalysis At Atomic Resolution, Arden Perkins, Derek Parsonage, Kimberly J. Nelson, O. Maduka Ogba, Paul Ha-Yeon Cheong, Leslie B. Poole, P. Andrew Karplus

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) are ubiquitous cysteine-based peroxidases that guard cells against oxidative damage, are virulence factors for pathogens, and are involved in eukaryotic redox regulatory pathways. We have analyzed catalytically active crystals to capture atomic resolution snapshots of a PrxQ-subfamily enzyme (from Xanthomonas campestris) proceeding through thiolate, sulfenate, and sulfinate species. These analyses provide structures of unprecedented accuracy for seeding theoretical studies, and show novel conformational intermediates giving insight into the reaction pathway. Based on a highly non-standard geometry seen for the sulfenate intermediate, we infer that the sulfenate formation itself can strongly promote local unfolding of the active site to …


Structural Properties Of Thermoresponsive Poly(N-Isopropylacrylamide)-Poly(Ethyleneglycol) Microgels, J. Clara-Rahola, A. Fernandez-Nieves, B. Sierra-Martin, A. B. South, L. Andrew Lyon, J. Kohlbrecher, A. F. Barbero Jan 2012

Structural Properties Of Thermoresponsive Poly(N-Isopropylacrylamide)-Poly(Ethyleneglycol) Microgels, J. Clara-Rahola, A. Fernandez-Nieves, B. Sierra-Martin, A. B. South, L. Andrew Lyon, J. Kohlbrecher, A. F. Barbero

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

The application of RNA interference to treat disease is an important yet challenging concept in modern medicine. In particular, small interfering RNA (siRNA) have shown tremendous promise in the treatment of cancer. However, siRNA show poor pharmacological properties, which presents a major hurdle for effective disease treatment especially through intravenous delivery routes. In response to these shortcomings, a variety of nanoparticle carriers have emerged, which are designed to encapsulate, protect, and transport siRNA into diseased cells. To be effective as carrier vehicles, nanoparticles must overcome a series of biological hurdles throughout the course of delivery. As a result, one promising …


Synthesis Of Multifunctional Nanogels Using A Protected Macromonomer Approach, Neetu Singh, L. Andrew Lyon Jan 2008

Synthesis Of Multifunctional Nanogels Using A Protected Macromonomer Approach, Neetu Singh, L. Andrew Lyon

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Nanoparticles possessing multiple functionalities provide synthetic handles for varied surface chemistries, making them useful for a range of applications such as biotargeting and drug delivery. However, the combination of interfering functionalities on the same particle is often challenging. We have employed a synthetic scheme involving chemical protection/deprotection to combine interfering functional groups on the same hydrogel nanoparticle. The synthesis of amine-containing poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) nanogels was carried out via free radical precipitation polymerization by incorporating a Fmoc-protected amine poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) macromonomer. The Fmoc group was then removed to obtain free amines, which were shown to be available for conjugation. We further …


Reduced Acute Inflammatory Responses To Microgel Conformal Coatings, Amanda W. Bridges, Neetu Singh, Kellie L. Burns, Julia E. Babensee, L. Andrew Lyon, Andrés J. García Jan 2008

Reduced Acute Inflammatory Responses To Microgel Conformal Coatings, Amanda W. Bridges, Neetu Singh, Kellie L. Burns, Julia E. Babensee, L. Andrew Lyon, Andrés J. García

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Implantation of synthetic materials into the body elicits inflammatory host responses that limit medical device integration and biological performance. This inflammatory cascade involves protein adsorption, leukocyte recruitment and activation, cytokine release, and fibrous encapsulation of the implant. We present a coating strategy based on thin films of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel microparticles (i.e. microgels) cross-linked with poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate. These particles were grafted onto a clinically relevant polymeric material to generate conformal coatings that significantly reduced in vitro fibrinogen adsorption and primary human monocyte/macrophage adhesion and spreading. These microgel coatings also reduced leukocyte adhesion and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, …