Taccalonolide

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Chemical structure of taccalonolide A Taccalonolide A.svg
Chemical structure of taccalonolide A

Taccalonolides are a class of microtubule-stabilizing agents isolated from Tacca chantrieri that has been shown to have selective cancer-fighting properties. Other examples of microtubule-stabilizing agents include taxanes and epothilones, both of which prevent cancer cells from dividing by interfering with tubulin. [1] While taxanes like Paclitaxel and docetaxel have been used successfully against breast, ovarian, prostate, and non–small-cell lung cancers, intrinsic and acquired drug resistance limit their anticancer properties. Unlike taxanes, taccalonolides appear to work through a different mechanism of action that does not involve tubulin, although recently isolated taccalonolides AF and AJ have shown tubulin-interaction activity. [2] [3] The discovery of taccalonolides opens up new possibilities to treat cancer cells, especially ones that are taxane- or epithilone-resistant.

Contents

Discovery

The first taccalonolide was isolated in 1963 from the tubers of Tacca leontopetaloides when researchers were exploring the "bitter principle" of the plant. [4] Named taccalin, the bitter, light yellow powder and its hypothesized properties would help build the infrastructure for the elucidation of the structure of taccaolonolides 24 years later.

The structures of taccalonolides A and B were elucidated in 1987 as a complex pentacyclic steroidal-like structure with the molecular formula of C36H46O14 and taccolonolide E was isolated in 1991. [5] [6] The most recent taccalonolides, AC-AF and H2, were elucidated using spectroscopic methods in 2011. [3] Each taccalonolide contains a C2-C3 epoxide and all except taccalonolide C have a C23-C26 lactone ring. [7]

Taccalonolides in the cancer-fighting context were discovered in a mechanism-based screening program designed to identify microtubule-disrupting agents from natural products. [1] After a crude extract with Taxol-like microtubule binding properties was identified, bioassay-directed purification yielded taccalonolides E and A.

Effects

Like other microtubule-stabilizing agents, taccalonolides induce the formation of abnormal mitotic spindles, leading to mitotic arrest, Bcl-2 phosphorylation, MAPK activation, nucleus breakdown, formation of micronuclei, and initiation of apoptosis. [1] [2]

Mechanism in action

Unlike other microtubule-stabilizing agents, most taccalonolides do not bind to the taxane-binding site of tubulin. [8] The exact mechanism of action has not yet been elucidated, although a recent study found that taccalonolides AF and AJ may interact directly with tubulin. [3]

Role in cancer therapy

Microtubule-targeting agents have been used in an anti-cancer context for more than 50 years, from the clinical use of vinblastine in 1961. [9] Recent studies show that taccalonolides have promise as a new and effective cancer-fighting agent to circumvent multiple drug resistance mechanisms. The potential advantages of taccalonolides include: 1) a novel structure, 2) a novel mechanism, 4) more persistent (less reversible) activity than other MT-stabilizers, and 4) concentrations effective in interphase and mitotic cells that are very similar. [8]

In vitro

In vitro , taccalonolides are substantially less potent than taxanes. [1] [10] However, taccalonolides A,B,E, and N have shown cytotoxic potency in the high nanomolar range against cervical, ovarian, breast, and lung cancer cell lines. [1] [10] Because they do not bind directly to tubulin, taccalonolides have shown efficacy in cell lines and tumors with taxane-resistance mediated by overexpression of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) multidrug transporter or expression of class III β-tubulin. [2] [10] They have also shown efficacy against cells with expression of mutations in the paclitaxel binding site or expression of ABC transporter multidrug resistance protein 7 (MRP7) (which show resistance to epothilone B). [1] A recent study showed that taccalonolide A and γ-radiation act in an additive manner to cause cell death. [11]

In vivo

Taccalonolide A has been shown to more potent than paclitaxel in vivo , although the nature of the differences between in vitro and in vivo potency is not yet known. [10] Taccalonolides A and E were potent against Pgp-expression Mam17/ADR synergeic cells in mouse models and were shown to be effective antitumor agents in doxorubicin and paclitaxel insensitive tumors. [10]

Future directions

Currently, complete chemical synthesis is not an option due to structural complexity. However, taccalonolide AJ was semisynthesized as an epoxidation product of taccalonolide B, suggesting that partial synthesis may be a possibility. [3] Purification of taccalonolides from the roots and rhizomes of T.chantrieri plants is time-consuming and expensive. [7]

A non-toxic, readily bioavailable formulation for taccalonolides is needed. The in vivo studies performed involved formulation with a solution moderately toxic to patients. [7] One possibility is the encapsulation of a drug into a carrier molecule, which has been successfully done with several hydrophobic drugs, including paclitaxel. [7]

Finally, it is imperative to elucidate the mechanism of action of taccalonides to further both drug development and identification of other molecules capable of producing taccalonolide-like effects. [7]

Related Research Articles

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Microtubules are polymers of tubulin that form part of the cytoskeleton and provide structure and shape to eukaryotic cells. Microtubules can be as long as 50 micrometres, as wide as 23 to 27 nm and have an inner diameter between 11 and 15 nm. They are formed by the polymerization of a dimer of two globular proteins, alpha and beta tubulin into protofilaments that can then associate laterally to form a hollow tube, the microtubule. The most common form of a microtubule consists of 13 protofilaments in the tubular arrangement.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spindle apparatus</span> Feature of biological cell structure

In cell biology, the spindle apparatus is the cytoskeletal structure of eukaryotic cells that forms during cell division to separate sister chromatids between daughter cells. It is referred to as the mitotic spindle during mitosis, a process that produces genetically identical daughter cells, or the meiotic spindle during meiosis, a process that produces gametes with half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tubulin</span> Superfamily of proteins that make up microtubules

Tubulin in molecular biology can refer either to the tubulin protein superfamily of globular proteins, or one of the member proteins of that superfamily. α- and β-tubulins polymerize into microtubules, a major component of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton. Microtubules function in many essential cellular processes, including mitosis. Tubulin-binding drugs kill cancerous cells by inhibiting microtubule dynamics, which are required for DNA segregation and therefore cell division.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Docetaxel</span> Chemotherapy medication

Docetaxel, sold under the brand name Taxotere among others, is a chemotherapy medication used to treat a number of types of cancer. This includes breast cancer, head and neck cancer, stomach cancer, prostate cancer and non-small-cell lung cancer. It may be used by itself or along with other chemotherapy medication. It is given by slow injection into a vein.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taxane</span> Chemical compound

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Epothilone</span> Class of chemical compounds

Epothilones are a class of potential cancer drugs. Like taxanes, they prevent cancer cells from dividing by interfering with tubulin, but in early trials, epothilones have better efficacy and milder adverse effects than taxanes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Combretastatin</span> Chemical compound

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A mitotic inhibitor, microtubule inhibitor, or tubulin inhibitor, is a drug that inhibits mitosis, or cell division, and is used in treating cancer, gout, and nail fungus. These drugs disrupt microtubules, which are structures that pull the chromosomes apart when a cell divides. Mitotic inhibitors are used in cancer treatment, because cancer cells are able to grow through continuous division that eventually spread through the body (metastasize). Thus, cancer cells are more sensitive to inhibition of mitosis than normal cells. Mitotic inhibitors are also used in cytogenetics, where they stop cell division at a stage where chromosomes can be easily examined.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Tinley, T.L., Randall-Klubek, D.A., Leal, R.M., Jackson, E.M., Cessac, J.W., Quada, J.C., Hemscheidt, T.K., Mooberry, S.L. Taccalonolides E and A: Plant-derived steroids with microtubule-stabilizing activity. Cancer Res 63 (2003), 3211-3220.
  2. 1 2 3 Buey, R.M., Barasoain, I., Jackson, E., Meyer, A., Giannakakou, P., Paterson, I., Mooberry, S., Andreu, J.M., Diaz, J.F. Microtubule interactions with chemically diverse stabilizing agents: thermodynamics of binding to the Paclitaxel site predicts cytotoxicity. Chem. Biol. 12 (12) (2005), 1269-1279.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Li, J., Risinger, A.L., Peng, J., Chen, Z., Hu, L., Mooberry, S.L. Potent Taccalonolides, AF and AJ, Inform Significant Structure–Activity Relationships and Tubulin as the Binding Site of These Microtubule Stabilizers. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2011, 133 (47), pp 19064–19067.
  4. ↑ Scheuer, P.J., Swanholm, C.E., Madamba, L.A., Hudgins, W.R. The constituents of Tacca leontopetaloides. Lloydia, 26 (3) (1963), pp. 133–140.
  5. ↑ Chen, Z.L., Wang, B.D., Chen, M.Q. Steroidal bitter principles from Tacca plantaginea. Structures of taccalonolide A and B. Tetrahedron Lett., 28 (1987), 1673-1678.
  6. ↑ Shen, J., Chen, Z., and Gao, Y. The pentacyclic steroidal constituents of Tacca plantaginea: taccalonolide E and F. Chinese J. Chem., 9: 92–94, 1991.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Risinger, A.L, & Mooberry, S.L. Taccalonolides: Novel microtubule stabilizers with clinical potential. Cancer Letters 291 (1) (2010), 14-19.
  8. 1 2 Risinger, A.L., & Mooberry, S.L. Cellular studies reveal mechanistic differences between taccalonolide A and paclitaxel. Cell Cycle 10 (13) (2011), 2162-2171.
  9. ↑ Xue, Q., Liu, X., Guo, D. Microtubule-Binding Natural Products for Cancer Therapy. Planta Med 76 (11) (2010), 1037-1043.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Risinger, A.L, Jackson, E.M., Polin, L.A., Helms, G.L., Leboeuf, D.A., Joe, P.A., Hopper-Borge, E., Luduena, R.F., Kruh, G.D., Mooberry, S.L. The taccalonolides: microtubule stabilizers that circumvent clinically relevant taxane resistance mechanisms. Cancer Res 68 (2008), 8881-8888.
  11. ↑ Risinger, A.L., Natarajan, M., Thomas, C.R., Mooberry, S.L. The taccalonolides, novel microtubule stabilizers, and γ-radiation have additive effects on cellular viability. Cancer Letters 307 (1) (2011), 104-111.
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