Chemicals and Drugs Commons^™

Total Synthesis Of The Marine Cytotoxic Mansouramycin And Derivatives, Aditya Dantu, Gabriella L. Madrigal, Neel Gondi, David Osazee, Ahmad Amro, Whard Alsabbagh, Shizue Mito

Research Colloquium

Purpose: Isoquinolinequinones are a group of organic compounds which are composed of an isoquinoline fused to a quinone ring. This class of molecules is known to exhibit a wide variety of biological activities, including cytotoxic and antitumor properties. Among the many families of isoquinolinequinones are the Caulibugulones and Mansouramycins, which exhibit anticancer properties and are thus desirable subjects for cancer-related research. They are obtained by isolation from marine bryozoan Caulibugula intermis and marine Streptomyces sp respectively, however these compounds are difficult to extract. Thus, organic synthesis is being explored as a method of obtaining them; this project focuses on the …

Investigating Cucurbitacin D'S Efficacy In Ameliorating Benzo[A]Pyrene-Induced Hepatic Injury, Mohammed Sikander, Shabnam Malik, Daniel Zubieta, Anyssa Rodriguez, Fathi T. Halaweish, Murali Yallapu, Meena Jaggi, Subhash Chauhan

Research Colloquium

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasingly linked to various co-morbidity factors, notably smoking, which introduces benzo[a]pyrene—a potent carcinogen known for its role in liver damage. Cucurbitacin, a triterpene with diverse biological activities, exhibits antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and anti-cancer properties, yet its hepatoprotective effects remain inadequately explored. In this study, we investigated the hepatoprotective activity of cucurbitacin D, a novel analog, against benzo[a]pyrene-induced liver injury in human HepG2 cells. To evaluate its protective effects, we conducted proliferation, clonogenicity, migration, invasion assays, alongside Western blotting and qPCR analyses. The DCFDA assay was employed to measure intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in liver cells. …

Editorial: Molecular Mechanisms Of Ion Channel Activation And Modulation, Meng Cui, Miao Zhang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

"Ion channels are integral membrane proteins that regulate the passage of ions across cell membranes, thereby shaping processes as diverse as neuronal signaling, muscle contraction, and hormone secretion. Channel activation is typically initiated by a stimulus such as voltage, ligand binding, or mechanical stress that induces conformational changes and opens the channel pore. Beyond activation, channels are subject to fine-tuned modulation by a wide range of endogenous and exogenous agents, from lipids and neurotransmitters to pharmacological drugs. Modulators can stabilize the open, closed, or inactivated states, shift ligand affinities, or alter gating kinetics. Dissecting the structural and dynamic basis of …

Miconazole Induces Cell Cycle Arrest And Apoptosis In Prostate Cancer Cells Via A P53-Mediated Pathway: A Drug Repurposing Strategy, Eswara Naga Hanuma Kumar Ghali, Lindsey Shim, Rahul Tiwari, Rajasekhar Baru, Anupam Dhasmana, Ryan Chang, Sung Yun Jung, Vivek K. Kashyap, Neeraj Chauhan, Subhash Chauhan, Murali Yallapu

Research Colloquium

Aim: Repurposing of FDA-approved antifungal drugs to combat prostate cancer.

Background: Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death among men in the United States, second only to non-melanoma skin cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates about 313,780 new cases and 35,770 deaths from prostate cancer in 2025. Despite various treatments such as radiation therapy (both external beam and internal), chemotherapy, hormone therapy, cryotherapy, biological therapy, and high-intensity focused ultrasound, men are monitored for side effects over many years. Therefore, new drugs and treatment strategies are urgently needed to address this challenge.

Methods: In this study, we …

Bridging Genetics And Pharmacology: Diazoxide Choline Xr (Vykat) In The Treatment Of Hyperphagia In Prader–Willi Syndrome, Elena Dike, Nazia Siddiqui, Astrid-Ines Foamkom, Bharathi Gadad

Research Colloquium

Prader–Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder caused by loss of paternal expression in the 15q11–q13 region, with the SNORD116/SNHG14 cluster most strongly linked to hyperphagia. This hyperphagia is a major cause of morbidity in PWS. Vykat, a recently approved FDA drug to treat hyperphagia in PWS acts by opening KATP channels in pancreatic β-cells, thereby reducing insulin secretion and indirectly improving satiety. This presentation aims to highlight the central hypothalamic dysfunction from genetic imprinting defects and the peripheral action of Vykat. While Vykat represents a significant advance, especially for individuals with severe hyperphagia, it does not address the …

Synthesis Of Various Flavonoids For Effective Anti-Immune Thrombocytopenia Agents, Benjamin Valdivia, Alyssa Aguilar, Victoria Herrera, Shizue Mito

Research Colloquium

Background: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a hematological disorder characterized by abnormally low platelet counts, often resulting in increased bleeding risk and impaired immune function. Current therapies may be costly, ineffective, or carry significant side effects, highlighting the need for safer, affordable alternatives. Carica papaya leaf extract has shown promise in increasing platelet counts, with flavonoids such as quercetin suggested as key bioactive constituents. However, unmodified plant compounds often suffer from limited potency or specificity. This research aims to synthesize structurally modified flavonoids derived from C. papaya to enhance their therapeutic activity for ITP. Our central hypothesis is that rational chemical …

Rapid Mapping Of Spinal And Supraspinal Connectome Via Self-Targeting Glucose-Based Carbon Dots, Yasin B. Seven, Elif S. Seven, Emel Kirbas Cilingir, Komal Parikh, Mehmet Aydin, Edward K. Luca, Jayakrishnan Nair, Roger M. Leblanc

Department of Physical Therapy Faculty Papers

The spinal cord is a highly dynamic network, playing significant roles in the vital functions of the brain. Disorders of the spinal cord, such as spinal cord injury and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), are associated with neurodegeneration, often resulting in morbidity and mortality. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) poses a major challenge to imaging and therapeutic agents because less than 2% of small-molecule drugs and almost no large-molecule drugs can cross the BBB. Furthermore, spatial spectroscopy studies have shown highly heterogeneous BBB crossing with significant accumulation at the unintended brain regions. Thus, targeting systems that can cross the BBB at the …

Integrated Mirna-Mrna Analyses Of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer In Black And White Patients With Or Without Obesity, Fokhrul Hossain, Martha I. Gonzalez-Ramirez, Jone Garai, Diana Polania-Villanueva, Li Li, Farzeen Nafees, Md Manirujjaman, Bolin Liu, Samarpan Majumder, Xiao Cheng Wu, Chindo Hicks, Luis Del Valle, Denise Danos, Augusto Ochoa, Lucio Miele, Jovanny Zabaleta

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive, heterogeneous subtype of breast cancer. miRNAs play an essential role in TNBC pathogenesis and prognosis. Obesity is linked with an increased risk for several cancers, including breast cancer. Obesity is also related to the dysregulation of miRNA expression in adipose tissues. However, there is limited knowledge about race- and obesity-specific differential miRNA expression in TNBC. We performed miRNA sequencing of 48 samples (24 tumor and 24 adjacent non-tumor tissues) and RNA sequencing of 24 tumors samples from Black (AA) and White (EA) TNBC patients with or without obesity. We identified 55 miRNAs exclusively …

Efficacy And Safety Of Rigosertib In Patients With Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa-Associated Advanced/Metastatic Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Martin Laimer, Andrew P. South, Elisabeth Mayr, Sophie Kitzmueller, Lauren Banner, Michael Alexander, Linda Hosler, Henry Yang, Matthew Parris, Meena Arora, Georg Zimmermann, Gregor Schweighofer-Zwink, Johann Bauer, Neda Nikbakht

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is an epithelial fragility disease primarily affecting the skin and is caused by variants in the COL7A1 gene. Individuals with RDEB are predisposed to develop highly aggressive cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) which are the most common cause of premature death. There is a lack of effective prevention or treatment options for patients with RDEB-SCC.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the antitumour activity and safety of the polo-like kinase-1 (PLK1) inhibitor, rigosertib, two investigator-initiated open-label, single-arm phase II studies were opened in Europe and the USA and enrolled five patients with RDEB diagnosed with locally advanced …

Allosteric Control Overcomes Steric Limitations For Neutralizing Antibodies Targeting Conserved Binding Epitopes Of The Sars-Cov-2 Spike Protein: Exploring The Intersection Of Binding, Allostery, And Immune Escape With A Multimodal Computational Approach, Mohammed Alshahrani, Vedant Parikh, Brandon Foley, Gennady M. Verkhivker

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Understanding the atomistic basis of multi-layer mechanisms employed by broadly reactive neutralizing antibodies of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein without directly blocking receptor engagement remains an important challenge in coronavirus immunology. Class 4 antibodies represent an intriguing case: they target a deeply conserved, cryptic epitope on the receptor-binding domain yet exhibit variable neutralization potency across subgroups F1 (CR3022, EY6A, COVA1-16), F2 (DH1047), and F3 (S2X259). The molecular basis for this variability is not fully understood. Here, we employed a multi-modal computational approach integrating atomistic and coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, binding free energy calculations, mutational scanning, and dynamic network analysis to elucidate …

Treatment Evolution In Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria: A Case Series Of Sequential Treatment Versus Early Iptacopan Use, Alyssa L. Sepulveda, Ronald Shaju, Yolanda Gutierrez, Francisco Arias Reyes, Daniela Hernandez

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare, acquired hematopoietic stem cell disorder characterized by complement-mediated intravascular hemolysis, bone marrow failure, and a heightened risk of thrombosis. Prior to targeted therapies, management of PNH was largely supportive, focusing on transfusions, anticoagulation, and bone marrow transplantation. Thromboembolic events were the leading cause of mortality, accounting for approximately 40-67% of deaths prior to the introduction of complement inhibitors such as eculizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting terminal complement protein C5. In December 2023, iptacopan, an oral factor B inhibitor that targets the alternative complement pathway, was approved for PNH, offering improved patient compliance …

Bard1: A Friend Or Foe In Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma?, Lily Zekavat, Aditi Jain

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive solid malignancy with poor overall prognosis and limited response to standard treatments. Growing interest in the modulation of DNA repair mechanisms, including the homologous recombination (HR) repair pathway, has opened new avenues for therapeutic development. BARD1 (BRCA1-Associated RING Domain 1) plays a complex role in tumor biology, functioning either as a tumor suppressor or as an oncogenic driver, depending on isoform expression, cellular context, and regulatory environment. In this review, we examine the dual roles of BARD1, focusing on its regulation and paradoxical activities in PDAC. We summarize evidence that BARD1 and BARD1 …

Isolated Transaminitis As A Sentinel Sign Of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy In An Infant: A Case Report, Ayesha Khalid, Tuba Chaudhry, Ayesha Liaqat, Lauren Tufts

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive muscular dystrophy (MD) that typically presents after ambulation due to progressive proximal muscle weakness. The average age of diagnosis is 4.83 years. However, there are some subtle signs that can help in early diagnosis and delay the progression of the disease. We present a non-classical DMD case in a six-month-old infant with failure to thrive, persistent emesis, transaminitis, and truncal weakness, leading to an early diagnosis of DMD. Initial workup for failure to thrive was unremarkable, other than persistently elevated liver enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) with normal alkaline …

Opposing Synovial Cannabinoid Receptor Type 2 And Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 Expression In Painful Osteoarthritis, Collin A. Toups, Lauren G. Guillot, Kaitlyn Redondo, Sydney Jensen, Jennifer Klein, Luis Marrero

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Knee osteoarthritis (kOA) poses a major health challenge worldwide, but current non-surgical treatments have limited long-term success and do not address the underlying disease process. This study explores the complex relationship between the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and the endovanilloid system (EVS) in the synovial membrane of patients with kOA undergoing total knee replacement, focusing on how these systems relate to patient-reported pain and histological synovitis. Synovial tissues and fluid from patients grouped into high and low pain categories based on the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) were examined for cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2R), transient receptor potential vanilloid …

Targeting Kinin B1r Attenuates Hypertension Through At1r-Dependent Mechanisms, Drew Theobald, Riley N. Bessetti, Yumei Feng Earley, Eric Lazartigues, Karen Litwa, Srinivas Sriramula

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Neurogenic hypertension is chronically high blood pressure that is initiated and maintained through excessive sympathetic nervous system activity and has been associated with increased B1R (kinin B1 receptor) activation. We previously reported a central role for B1R in mediating inflammatory pathways in the development of deoxycorticosterone acetate salt hypertension. Additionally, we identified a causal relationship between B1R expression after Ang II (angiotensin II) stimulation, and that B1R can mediate the bidirectional interaction between neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. However, whether there are any interactions between AT1R (Ang II-type I receptor) and B1R, and if B1R can mediate the effects of …

In-Hospital Exposure And Opioids Prescribed After Total Knee Arthroplasty, Clifton Daigle, Robert Branstetter, Leland Van Deventer, Ravi Rajendra, Claudia Leonardi, Amy Bronstone, Vinod Dasa

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Opioids are frequently used intraoperatively and during postanesthesia care unit care in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) cases and are commonly prescribed after surgery despite known adverse effects. This study examined whether in-hospital opioid exposure is related to postoperative opioid prescribing in opioid-naïve TKA patients. METHODS: This retrospective study included opioid-naïve patients (no opioid prescriptions filled during the three months before TKA) who had unilateral primary TKA between May 1, 2020, and November 30, 2023, performed by an orthopaedic surgeon. All patients were treated using the same multimodal pain protocol. Opioid prescriptions filled by patients during the three months following …

Resolution Of Physics And Deep Learning-Based Protein Engineering Filters: A Case Study With A Lipase For Industrial Substrate Hydrolysis, Spencer Gardiner, Peter Dollinger, Filip Kovacic, Jörge Pietruszka, Daniel Ess, Karl-Erich Jaeger, Gunnar F. Schröder, Dennis Della Corte

Faculty Publications

Computational enzyme design remains a powerful yet imperfect tool for optimizing biocatalysts, especially when targeting non-natural substrates. Using design tools we investigated Pseudomonas aeruginosa LipA, a lipase with a flexible lid domain crucial for substrate binding and turnover, aiming to enhance its hydrolysis of the industrially relevant substrate Roche ester. We generated an initial set of single-point mutations based on structural proximity to the active site and evaluated their effects using a computational pipeline integrating molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and ensemble-based energy scoring. While we identified several active variants, attempts to rank them by activity …

Distinct Transcriptional Regulation Of The Wnt And Tgfβ Signaling Families Associated With Wound Healing And Fibrotic Outcomes To Lens Injury, Catherine Lalman, Kylie R. Stabler, Joshua Disatham, Lisa A. Brennan, Marc Kantorow, Janice L. Walker

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) is a fibrotic complication of cataract surgery caused by aberrant repair of residual lens cells. It remains unclear how the lens injury response shifts toward a pathological repair process. Here, we performed a transcriptional analysis of two major pro-fibrotic pathways, the TGF-β superfamily and Wnt signaling pathways to determine how they are differentially regulated during regenerative wound healing versus fibrosis in a lens injury model. For these studies, RNA sequencing was performed on an ex vivo lens explant system that models post-surgical healing within regenerative and fibrotic microenvironments, from 0 to 3 days post-injury. Fibrotic conditions …

Synthesis, Pharmacokinetic Studies, And Metabolite Analysis Of Meridianin C In Rats Using A Validated Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method, Liangyu Xu, Zhaogen Wu, Karna Ramachandraiah, Guihun Jiang, Guozhe Zhang

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Introduction: Meridianin C (MC) is a marine-derived indole alkaloid that has demonstrated kinase inhibitory and anti-tumor activities. Despite its diverse biological properties, no previous reports have systematically evaluated the in vivo quantitative analysis of MC and its metabolites. Methods: In this study, MC was synthesized following a previously reported procedure with slight modifications. A sensitive, accurate, and reliable ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) method was developed to simultaneously detect MC and its five major metabolites (MC-1-N-O-GluA, MC-1-N-O-SO3H, MC-2′-N-O-GluA, MC-2′-N-O-SO3H, and MC-O-GluA-didehydration) in rat plasma. Rats received a single oral dose of MC (100 mg/kg), and pharmacokinetic analysis was …

Advances In Indole Chemistry: Regiodivergent Annulations And Bridged Azacycle Synthesis, Zachary Tihomir Protich

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

An important aspect for the research and development of new drug therapies is the ability to use modular synthetic methods to rapidly access structurally diverse drug-like building blocks. Nitrogen-containing heterocycles represent one of the most prevalent structural motifs found in pharmaceutical agents and biologically active natural products. However, despite their ubiquity, existing methods for accessing these structures often remain limited in scope, efficiency, and structural diversity, particularly when targeting densely functionalized or sterically demanding scaffolds from simple starting materials.

To address this problem, the research described in this dissertation focuses on the design and development of (3+2) annulation reactions for …