CHED 1302 |
| Bisphosphonates are used for the clinical treatment of osteoporosis, Paget's disease, and other bone resorption diseases, and function by inhibiting the enzyme farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPPS). In addition to preventing bone deterioration, bisphosphonates also have proven to have potent anti-tumor activity, a fact which paves the way for investigations in the development of highly potent bisphosphonate drugs for use in chemotherapy. FPPS, geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (GGPPS), and other enzymes of the isoprenoid biosynthesis pathway are involved in cell signaling survival pathways though the posttranslational modification of Ras, Rac, and Rho proteins. It has been shown that preventing the formation of geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) by inhibiting GGPPS induces apoptosis, a result that could lead to an untapped form of cancer therapy. In response, our research group has developed a series of new bisphosphonates meant to inhibit GGPPS. The inhibition profiles of these compounds have been examined by performing spectrophotomeric assays. As well as being effective against GGPPS (Ki as low as 10 nM), several of our compounds have also exhibited high activity against multiple tumor cell lines. |
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Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Medicinal Chemistry
2:00 PM-4:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster
Division of Chemical Education |