Therapeutic antibodies targeting ovarian cancer (OvCa)-enriched receptors have largely been disappointing due to limited tumor-specific antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Here we report a symbiotic approach that is highly selective and superior compared with investigational clinical antibodies. This bispecific-anchored cytotoxicity activator antibody is rationally designed to instigate "cis" and "trans" cytotoxicity by combining specificities against folate receptor alpha-1 (FOLR1) and death receptor 5 (DR5). Whereas the in vivo agonist DR5 signaling requires FcγRIIB interaction, the FOLR1 anchor functions as a primary clustering point to retain and maintain a high level of tumor-specific apoptosis. The presented proof of concept study strategically makes use of a tumor cell-enriched anchor receptor for agonist death receptor targeting to potentially generate a clinically viable strategy for OvCa.

Ianthelliformisamines A-C are a novel class of bromotyrosine-derived antibacterial agents isolated recently from the marine sponge Suberea ianthelliformis. We have synthesized ianthelliformisamines A-C straightforwardly by the condensation of (E)-3-(3,5-dibromo-4-methoxyphenyl)acrylic acid and the corresponding Boc-protected polyamine followed by Boc-deprotection with TFA. Further, using this reaction protocol, a library of their analogues (39 analogues) has been synthesized by employing 3-phenylacrylic acid derivatives and Boc-protected polyamine chains through various combinations of these two fragments differing in phenyl ring substitution, double bond geometry or chain length of the central spacer of the polyamine chain (shown in red color). All the synthesized compounds (ianthelliformisamines A-C and their analogues) were screened for antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) strains. All synthetic analogues of ianthelliformisamine A showed bacterial growth inhibition against both strains (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus), having MIC values in the range of 117.8-0.10 μM, while none of the synthetic analogues of ianthelliformisamine C as well as the parent compound showed any detectable antibacterial activity. Interestingly, some of the synthetic analogues of ianthelliformisamines A and B exerted a bactericidal effect against both E. coli and S. aureus strains, decreasing viable bacterial count by 99% at concentrations as low as 2 × MIC.

Intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) of proteins often regulate function through interactions with folded domains. Escherichia coli single-stranded DNA binding protein SSB binds and stabilizes single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). The N-terminal of SSB contains characteristic OB (oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide-binding) fold which binds ssDNA tightly but non-specifically. SSB also forms complexes with a large number proteins via the C-terminal interaction domain consisting mostly of acidic amino acid residues. The amino acid residues located between the OB-fold and C-terminal acidic domain are known to constitute an IDR and no functional significance has been attributed to this region. Although SSB is known to bind many DNA repair protein, it is not known whether it binds to DNA dealkylation repair protein AlkB. Here, we characterize AlkB SSB interaction and demonstrate that SSB binds to AlkB via the IDR. We have established that AlkB-SSB interaction by in vitro pull-down and yeast two-hybrid analysis. We mapped the site of contact to be the residues 152-169 of SSB. Unlike most of the SSB-binding proteins which utilize C-terminal acidic domain for interaction, IDR of SSB is necessary and sufficient for AlkB interaction.

Background: Fe(II)/2-oxoglutarate (2OG)-dependent dioxygenases repair alkyl-base lesions of DNA. Results: Tpa1 is a Fe(II)/2OG-dependent dioxygenase and mediates alkyl-base repair in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and deleting TPA1 with DNA glycosylase MAG1 had a synergistic effect on the susceptibility to methylation-induced toxicity. Conclusion: Tpa1 protein plays a crucial role in DNA alkylation repair. Significance: Our results provide the first evidence of direct alkylation repair by any Fe(II)/2OG-dependent dioxygenases in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.