COMPOUNDS AND USES FOR THE TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF DISEASES AND CONDITIONS ASSOCIATE WITH OR AGGREVATED BY IMPARED MITOPHAGY
20210253511 · 2021-08-19
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
C07C279/04
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
C07C211/01
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
A61P25/28
HUMAN NECESSITIES
C07D295/00
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
C07D213/02
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
C07C207/02
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
A61K31/198
HUMAN NECESSITIES
C07D233/54
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
International classification
C07C207/02
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
C07C211/01
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
C07C279/04
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
C07D213/02
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
C07D233/54
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
Abstract
The present invention provides compounds and methods for the treatment and prevention of diseases and conditions associate with or aggravated by impaired mitophagy.
Claims
1. A method of treating or prevention of a disease, disorder, symptom, which is caused by, associated with, or aggravated by impaired mitophagy said method comprising administering a compound having a general formula (I)
R.sub.1-L-R.sub.2 (I) wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each independently selected from —C(═NR.sub.3)NR.sub.4R.sub.5, —NR.sub.6R.sub.7, —N.sup.+R.sub.8R.sub.9R.sub.10, —NR.sub.11C(═N)NR.sub.12R.sub.13, —NR.sub.18NR.sub.19R.sub.20, —ONR.sub.22R.sub.23, —NR.sub.14C(═N)—NR.sub.15—C(═N)—NR.sub.16R.sub.17═N—R.sub.21 ##STR00010## wherein each of R.sub.3-R.sub.28 is independently selected from H, straight or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.12 alkyl, straight or branched C.sub.2-C.sub.12 alkenyl, straight or branched C.sub.2-C.sub.12 alkynyl, phenyl, —OH, halogen and any combinations thereof; L is selected from straight or branched C.sub.6-C.sub.12 alkylene, straight or branched C.sub.6-C.sub.12 alkenylene, straight or branched C.sub.6-C.sub.12 alkynylene; each defined L is optionally interrupted by at least one of C.sub.4-C.sub.8 cycloalkylene, C.sub.4-C.sub.8 cycloalkenylene, C.sub.4-C.sub.8 cycloalkynylene, arylene, heteroarylene, heteroatom and any combinations thereof; each defined L is optionally substituted with at least one of halogen and any combinations thereof.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein L is straight or branched C.sub.6-C.sub.12 alkylene.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein L is interrupted by at least one of C.sub.4-C.sub.8 cycloalkylene, C.sub.4-C.sub.8 cycloalkenylene, C.sub.4-C.sub.8 cycloalkynylene, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroatom and any combinations thereof.
4.-12. (canceled)
13. A method according to claim 1, wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each —C(═NR.sub.3)NR.sub.4R.sub.5.
14. A method according to claim 1, wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each selected from —NR.sub.6R.sub.7 and —N.sup.+R.sub.8R.sub.9R.sub.10.
15. A method according to claim 1, wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each selected from —NR.sub.11C(═N)NR.sub.12R.sub.13 and —NR.sub.14C(═N)—NR.sub.15—C(═N)—NR.sub.16R.sub.17.
16. A method according to claim 1, wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each —NR.sub.18NR.sub.19R.sub.20.
17. A method according to claim 1, wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each ═N—R.sub.21.
18. A method according to claim 1, wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each —ONR.sub.22R.sub.23.
19. A method according to claim 1, wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each ##STR00011##
20. A method according to claim 1, wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each ##STR00012##
21. A method according to claim 1, wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each ##STR00013##
22. (canceled)
23. (canceled)
24. A method according to claim 1, wherein said impaired mitophagy is in non-regenerative tissue.
25. (canceled)
26. A method according to claim 1, wherein said disease, disorder, symptom, which is caused by, associated with, or aggravated by impaired mitophagy is a neurodegenerative disease, disorder and condition associated therewith.
27. A method according to claim 1, wherein said disease, disorder, symptom, which is caused by, associated with, or aggravated by impaired mitophagy is an age-related disease, disorder and condition associated therewith.
28. A method according to claim 1, wherein said disease, disorder, symptom, which is caused by, associated with, or aggravated by impaired mitophagy is selected from Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, congestive heart failure, sarcopenia, type 2 diabetes, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, liver diseases, pancreatic diseases, ocular diseases, arthritis, cataracts, osteoporosis, hypertension, and any combinations thereof.
29. (canceled)
30. A compound having a general formula (I);
R.sub.1-L-R.sub.2 (I) wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each independently selected from —C(═NR.sub.3)NR.sub.4R.sub.5, —NR.sub.6R.sub.7, N.sup.+R.sub.8R.sub.9R.sub.10, —NR.sub.11C(═N)NR.sub.12R.sub.13, —NR.sub.14C(═N)—NR.sub.15—C(═N)—NR.sub.16R.sub.17, —NR.sub.18NR.sub.19R.sub.20, ═N—R.sub.21, —ONR.sub.22R.sub.23, ##STR00014## wherein each of R.sub.3-R.sub.28 is independently selected from H, straight or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.12 alkyl, straight or branched C.sub.2-C.sub.12 alkenyl, straight or branched C.sub.2-C.sub.12 alkynyl, phenyl, —OH, halogen and any combinations thereof; L is selected from straight or branched C.sub.6-C.sub.12 alkylene, straight or branched C.sub.6-C.sub.12 alkenylene, straight or branched C.sub.6-C.sub.1 alkynylene; each defined L is interrupted by at least one of C.sub.4-C.sub.8 cycloalkylene, C.sub.4-C.sub.8 cycloalkenylene, C.sub.4-C.sub.8 cycloalkynylene, arylene, heteroarylene, heteroatom and any combinations thereof; each defined L is optionally substituted with at least one of halogen and any combinations thereof.
31.-60. (canceled)
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0073] The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawings in which:
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[0090] It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0091] In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.
[0092] The inventors of the present application have found that a reliable model for testing the activity of the compounds of the present invention are C. elegans worms and their action against paraquat-induced oxidative-injury. The C. elegans model is one of the best-characterized organisms, having outstanding similarity to the human genome (e.g. see Aboobaker A A and Blaxter M L, Medical Significance of C. elegans, Ann. Med. 32: 23-30 (2000)). Many key molecular and physiological processes, that underlie autophagy, mitophagy, wellness and lifespan, are shared by humans and C. elegans and it has been proven to be an excellent model organism for exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases development such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's and including a variety of age-related diseases such as congestive heart failure and sarcopenia.
[0093] Moreover, recent development in imaging platforms and data analysis software have paved the way for high-throughput drug discovery in C. elegans as preferred organism in drug discovery for aging associated neurodegenerative diseases (Chen X. et al. Chem Sent J (2015) 9:65).
[0094] Chemical Synthesis of Compounds of the Invention
Example 1: Synthetic Procedure for the Preparation of 1,7-diaminooxy-heptane (VL-849) and 1,9-diaminooxy-nonane (VL-851) (Synthetic Schemes in FIGS. 1 and 2)
[0095] ##STR00006##
[0096] Hydrogen atoms were not depicted in the molecular representation of the compound for technical reasons, however the compound is fully represented by its molecular name.
[0097] Step A: To a solution of compound 1 (80.0 g, 605.0 mmol) in diethyl ether (1000 mL) two drops of triethylamine were added with stirring at 0° C. PBr.sub.3 (75.0 g, 277.1 mmol) was added over 1.5 hours and the reaction mixture was left overnight with stirring. Then the mass was poured onto ice (200.0 g), the ether layer was evaporated. The residue was distilled in an oil pump vacuum to give 75.0 g (291.0 mmol, 48%) of compound 2.
[0098] Step B: To a mixture of 2-hydroxyphthalimide (95.0 g, 582.4 mmol) and triethylamine (73.5 g, 726.4 mmol) in DMF (800 mL) the solution of compound 2 (75.0 g, 291.0 mmol) in DMF (200 mL) was added. The reaction mixture was left with stirring at room temperature for 72 hours. After a mass was poured into water (3000 mL). The precipitate was filtered, washed with water and methyl tert-butyl ether, dried in the air to give 100.0 g (236.7 mmol, 81%) of compound 3.
[0099] Step C: To a solution of compound 3 (100.0 g, 236.7 mmol) in THF (1200 mL) at −10-15° C. 40% aqueous methylhydrazine (70 mL) was added during 10 min. The reaction mixture was left with stirring at room temperature for 2 hours. The precipitate was filtered, washed with THF. The mother liquor was evaporated, hexane (300 mL) was added to the residue and filtered. The hexane was evaporated, the residue was distilled in an oil pump vacuum at 85-90° C. to give 28.0 g (172.6 mmol, 73%) of compound VL-849.
[0100] Step D: To a mixture of 2-hydroxyphthalimide (80.0 g, 490.4 mmol) and triethylamine (62.0 g, 612.7 mmol) in DMF (700 mL) the solution of compound 4 (80.0 g, 279.6 mmol) in DMF (200 mL) was added. The reaction mixture was left with stirring at room temperature for 72 hours. After a mass was poured into water (3000 mL). The precipitate was filtered, washed with water and methyl tert-butyl ether, dried in the air to give 75.0 g (166.5 mmol, 60%) of compound 5.
[0101] Step E: To a solution of compound 5 (75.0 g, 166.5 mmol) in THF (1200 mL) at −10-15° C. 40% aqueous methylhydrazine (57.5 mL) was added during 10 min. The reaction mixture was left with stirring at room temperature for 2 hours. The precipitate was filtered, washed with THF. The mother liquor was evaporated, hexane (300 mL) and methyl tert-butyl ether (100 mL) were added to the residue and filtered. The hexane and the methyl tert-butyl ether were evaporated, the residue was distilled in an oil pump vacuum at 105-110° C. (at 115° C. decomposed) to give 16.0 g (84.1 mmol, 50%) of compound VL-851.
Example 2: Synthetic Procedure for the Preparation of 1,7-diguanidinoheptane (VL-630) and 1,8-diguanidinooctane (VL-640) (Synthetic Schemes in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4)
[0102] ##STR00007##
[0103] Hydrogen atoms were not depicted in the molecular representation of the compound for technical reasons, however the compound is fully represented by its molecular name.
[0104] Step A: To a mixture of compound 1 (4.53 g, 34.8 mmol), acetonitrile (200 mL), and DMF (50 mL) DIPEA (9.00 g, 69.6 mmol) and pyrazole-1-carboxamidine hydrochloride (10.5 g, 71.6 mmol) were added and the reaction mass was left to stir at r.t. for 5 days. Then, the precipitated solid was collected by filtration, washed with acetonitrile, and recrystallized from ethanol to give 4.70 g (16.4 mmol, 47%) of target compound VL-630.
[0105] Step B: To a mixture of compound 2 (4.79 g, 33.2 mmol), acetonitrile (200 mL), and DMF (50 mL) DIPEA (8.58 g, 66.4 mmol) and pyrazole-1-carboxamidine hydrochloride (9.97 g, 68.0 mmol) were added and the reaction mass was left to stir at r.t. for 5 days. Then, the precipitated solid was collected by filtration, washed with acetonitrile, and recrystallized from ethanol to give 5.30 g (17.6 mmol, 53%) of target compound VL-640.
Example 3: Synthetic Procedure for the Preparation of 1,8-dihydrazine-octane (VL-800) and 1,8-diaminooxy-octane (VL-850) (Synthetic Schemes in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6A)
[0106] ##STR00008##
[0107] Hydrogen atoms were not depicted in the molecular representation of the compound for technical reasons, however the compound is fully represented by its molecular name.
[0108] Step A: To a suspension of NaH (10.0 g, 250 mmol) in DMF (100 ML) a solution of compound 1 (61.0 g, 233 mmol) in DMF (200 mL) was added dropwise and the reaction mass was stirred of 0.5 h at r.t. Then, a solution of 1,8-dibromooctane (31.3 g, 115 mmol) in DMF (50 mL) was added and the resulting mixture was stirred for 16 h at r.t. The obtained solution was poured into water (1000 mL). The precipitated solid was collected by filtration, washed with water (3×300 mL) and hexane (2×100 mL), and dried to obtain 62.0 g (89% yield) of compound 2.
[0109] Step B: To a cooled to 10° C. stirring solution of compound 2 (62.0 g, 97.7 mmol) in THF (600 mL) 40% aqueous methylhydrazine (34 mL) was added dropwise over 10 min and the reaction mass was stirred for 12 h at r.t. The precipitated solid was filtered off and rinsed with THF (2×100 mL). The filtrate and rinses were evaporated under reduced pressure and the residue was mixed with hexane. The insoluble solid was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated under reduced pressure. The obtained material was dissolved in methanol (100 mL) and added dropwise to a heated to 45° C. mixture of methanol (100 mL) and concentrated hydrochloric acid (50 mL). The resulting mixture was stirred at 45° C. for 2 h and then evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure. The residue was recrystallized from ethanol to obtain 17.5 g (73% yield) of target compound VL-800 as dihydrochloride salt.
[0110] Step C: To a mixture of compound 3 (18.0 g, 110 mmol) and triethylamine (14.0 g, 138 mmol) in DMF (150 mL) a solution of 1,8-dibromooctane (15.0 g, 55.0 mmol) in DMF (20 mL) was added and the reaction mass was stirred for 72 h at r.t. The obtained solution was poured into water (500 mL). The precipitated solid was collected by filtration, washed with water (3×100 mL) and MTBE (2×50 mL) and air-dried to obtain 14.0 g (58% yield) of compound 4.
[0111] Step D: To a cooled to 10° C. stirring solution of compound 3 (14.0 g, 85.8 mmol) in THF (200 mL) 40% aqueous methylhydrazine (11 mL) was added and the reaction mass was stirred for 12 h at r.t. The precipitated solid was collected by filtration and rinsed with THF (2×50 mL). The filtrate and rinses were evaporated under reduced pressure and the residue was mixed with hexane (100 mL). The insoluble solid was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated in vacuo. The residue was purified by vacuum distillation to obtain 3.80 g (67% yield) of target compound VL-850.
Example 4: Synthetic Procedure for the Preparation of 1,4-phenyl-bis-butylamine (VL-471) (Synthetic Schemes in FIG. 6B)
[0112] ##STR00009##
[0113] Hydrogen atoms were not depicted in the molecular representation of the compound for technical reasons, however the compound is fully represented by its molecular name.
[0114] Step A: Under argon atmosphere, to a solution of compound 1 (18.36 g, 55.7 mmol), CuI (1 g, 5.25 mmol), and Pd(PPh.sub.3).sub.4 (3.13 g, 2.71 mmol) in dry CH.sub.3CN (100 mL) was added a solution of compound 2 (25.7 g, 166 mmol) in dry NEt.sub.3 (14 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred under argon atmosphere for 2 days. Then diluted with CH.sub.2Cl.sub.2, washed with water, and concentrated under reduced pressure. Reduced-pressure column chromatography (hexanes:EtOAc 15:1) of the residue gave 3 g of compound 3 (7.80 mmol, 14% yield) as a white solid.
[0115] Step B: Compound 3 (2.4 g, 6.24 mmol) was dissolved in methanol (60 mL) and treated with 10% Pd(OH).sub.2(C) (0.24 g). The resulting mixture was hydrogenated at 20 bar and room temperature until the reaction was complete (TLC control). The catalyst was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated to afford 2.3 g of compound 4 (5.86 mmol, 94% yield).
[0116] Step C: Compound 4 (2.3 g, 5.86 mmol) was dissolved in methanol (50 mL) and 4M HCl:dioxane (10 mL) at r.t. The resulting mixture was stirred overnight. Upon completion of the reaction (monitored by HNMR), the resulting mixture was evaporated to dryness to obtain 1.5 g of target compound VL-471 (5.65 mmol, 96% yield) as solid residue.
[0117] Biological Experimental Procedures
[0118] C. elegans Strains and NGM-Plate Preparation:
[0119] C. elegans strains were grown at 21° C. on nematode growth media (NGM) agar plates containing diamines or vehicle as a control. The NGM agar plates were prepared as described in L. Livshits, E. Gross, A method for measuring sulfide toxicity in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, MethodsX 4 (2017) 250-255. A suspension of 3 g sodium chloride (NaCl), 20 g Bacto agar, and 2.5 g of Bacto peptone in 1 L of double distilled water (DDW) was mixed and autoclaved. Then, the medium was cooled to 55° C. and supplemented with 1 ml of 100 mM CaCl.sub.2), 1 ml of 100 mM MgSO4, 25 ml of 1 M potassium phosphate buffer pH 6, and 1 ml of 5 mg/ml cholesterol (the cholesterol was dissolved in ethanol). Diamines or DDW (vehicle) were added to the NGM-agar solution. For RNAi NGM-agar plates, Isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) and ampicillin were added to a final concentration of 1 mM and 100 μg/ml, respectively. The NGM-agar solution was thoroughly vortex mixed and immediately poured into 35 mm petri dish (4 ml per plate). NGM-plates were covered with aluminum foil and dried for 24 h at room temperature (RT). 24 h before the experiment, plates were seeded with 100 μl bacteria (OD.sub.600=0.6, OP50 or HT115(DE3)). The seeded plates were covered with aluminum foil and dried for 24 h at RT.
[0120] Bacteria Preparation:
[0121] To Make Luria-Bertani (LB) agar plates, 10 g NaCl, 10 g Bacto tryptone, 5 g Bacto yeast extract, and 15 g Bacto agar were dissolved in 1 litter of DDW, autoclave, cool to 55° C., and pour 25 ml per 9 cm petri dish. LB-agar plates with ampicillin were made by adding 1 ml of 100 mg/ml ampicillin (final concentration of 100 μg/ml). LB plates were dried at RT for two days prior to use. To Make 2× yeast tryptone (YT) medium, 5 g NaCl, 16 g bacto tryptone, and 10 g bacto yeast extract were dissolved in 1 litter of DDW and adjust the pH to 7. Autoclave and let cool to RT. For RNAi bacteria (HT115(DE3)), ampicillin was added to a final concentration of 100 μg/ml. To grow bacteria, the LB plates were streaked with bacteria (OP50 or HT115(DE3)) and incubated at 37° C. overnight (O/N). A single colony was grown in 3 ml of 2XYT in a 15 ml conical tube and shaked O/N at 37° C., 220 rpm. HT115(DE3) bacteria were grown with 100 μg/ml ampicillin. The O/N starter was diluted 200 fold in 2XYT (in a 500 ml Erlenmeyer flask) and Shaked at 37° C., 200 rpm, until an OD.sub.600 of ˜0.6.
[0122] Isolation of Specific Larval Stage:
[0123] To get synchronized C. elegans larvae, the method described in W. B. Wood, The Nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory 1988, was performed. In brief, hypochlorite/NaOH solution was made by mixing 1 ml of 5% solution of sodium hypochlorite, 800 μl of 2.5 N NaOH and 2.2 ml DDW to final concentrations of 0.5 N NaOH and 1.25% sodium hypochlorite. M9 buffer was made by dissolving 3 g KH.sub.2PO.sub.4, 6 g Na.sub.2HPO.sub.4, 5 g NaCl and 1 ml of MgSO.sub.4 from 1M stock in 1 litter of DDW. The solution pH was adjusted to 7 and sterilizes by filtration (with a 0.2 m filter bottle). Gravid hermaphrodites was washed from the NGM plates into a 15 ml tube with M9 buffer and centrifuged for 2 min at 900×g, RT. Liquid was removed until 2 ml worms' suspension was left and added 2 ml of hypochlorite/NaOH solution. A 5 ml syringe with a 21-gauge needle was used to aspirate the worm suspension back and forth several times. After 3 min it was observed the state of the worms using a dissecting stereoscope. At this stage, approximately 50% of worms should appear broken and many of the embryos should float in the solution. The embryos were immediately sedimented using centrifugation (1690×g for 2 min) and carefully removed the supernatant and add 10 ml of M9 buffer. This washing step was repeated three additional times. The supernatant was removed until 2 ml remains and rotated the tube for 16 h at RT. The hatched L larvae were collected by centrifugation (1690×g for 3 min) and put ˜80 L in each seeded NGM assay plate. Grow the L1 (Day 1) for 3 days until they become young adults (Day 3).
[0124] Paraquat Survival Assay:
[0125] Paraquat (PQ) survival assays were performed as described in L. Livshits, A. K. Chatterjee, N. Karbian, R. Abergel, Z. Abergel, E. Gross, Mechanisms of defense against products of cysteine catabolism in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, Free radical biology & medicine 104 (2017) 346-359. In brief, the worms (day 3) were collected from the NGM-agar plate by washing them with M9 buffer. Two additional washes were performed in order to remove bacteria. To assay PQ toxicity, ˜12 worms were put in a well (in 96-well plate) containing 100 μl of 200 mM Paraquat (in M9 buffer) or to M9 buffer as a control. The plate was shaken at 350 rpm on an orbital shaker at RT. Worm's survival was measured after 3, 6, and 24 h by touching them with an eyelash. In general, six independent assays for each strain/RNAi/treatment were performed. The total number of worms for each experiment was at least 120.
[0126] Off-Food Speed Measurements:
[0127] For speed-imaging experiments, low-peptone NGM agar plates were used. These plates were prepared as described above apart from the of Bacto peptone concentration that was decreased to 0.13 g/L and the use of 60 mm petri dished (instead of 35 mm dishes). Worms speed was measured as described in L. Livshits, A. K. Chatterjee, N. Karbian, R. Abergel, Z. Abergel, E. Gross, Mechanisms of defense against products of cysteine catabolism in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, Free radical biology & medicine 104 (2017) 346-359. In brief, eight synchronized worms (age 3 or 11 post-L1) were put (for 30 min) in a drop of M9 buffer to clean them from external and internal bacteria. During the 30 min the M9 buffer was replaced twice. After 30 min, the worms were placed at the center of a 17 mm diameter copper ring on an unseeded low-peptone plate. Recording was started after 5 min acclimation time. The worms were recorded for 10 min at 0.5 frames/s, using a Q-Imaging MicroPublisher 5.0 RTV Microscope Camera mounted onto an Olympus SZ61 stereo microscope. A custom-written MATLAB software was used to analyze the speed. For each treatment, at least 48 animals in 6 independent assays were measured.
[0128] Lifespan Assay:
[0129] Lifespan assays were performed as described in R. Abergel, L. Livshits, M. Shaked, A. K. Chatterjee, E. Gross, Synergism between soluble guanylate cyclase signaling and neuropeptides extends lifespan in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, Aging cell 16 (2) (2017) 401-413. In brief, 12 worms per plate were used. Notably, these worms were exposed to diamine or vehicle from the L1 stage (day 0). Worm's survival was scored every two days for live, dead (when it no longer responded to touch), and missing worms. The worms were transferred into fresh plates every 2 days to avoid progeny contamination and every 4 days when worms are in post-fertile stage, until the end of the experiment. Worms were scored as censored when they display internal progeny hatching (worm bagging), rupture, burrow in the agar or crawl off the plates, however, include them in the lifespan data analysis as censored. Every biological set included ˜60 worms and at least total number of 120 animals for each treatment/condition. All life span studies were performed at 21° C.
[0130] Mitophagy Imaging Experiments:
[0131] One day before the imaging experiment, ˜20 L4 of Rosella worms (wild-type N2; Ex003[Pmyo-3TOMM-20::Rosella]) were placed on NGM-agar plates containing diamines or vehicle as a control for 24 hours at 21° C. For positive control PQ was used as described in K. Palikaras, E. Lionaki, N. Tavernarakis, Coordination of mitophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis during ageing in C. elegans, Nature 521 (7553) (2015) 525-8. In brief, regular NGM plates were seeded with 100 μl OP50. In the next day, the plates were UV irradiated for 15 min (0.5 J) using a UV crosslinker. To these plates, 64 μl of PQ (500 mM stock solution in DDW) were added to a final concentration of 8 mM and let it diffuse for 4 h in RT. Then, ˜20 L4 Rosella worms were transferred to these plates and kept them at 21° C. for 24 hours. To make agarose pads, 2% agarose M9 buffer solution was made with Ethyl 3-aminobenzoate methanesulfonate (Tricaine) and Tetramisole hydrochloride (final concentrations of 0.05% w/v and 15 mM, respectively). Once solidified, 2 μL of the same solution (without the agarose) was placed on the pad, transferred the worms to it, and cover with an 18×18 cover glass. The worms were imaged using an Olympus IX71S1F-3-5 inverted microscope equipped with UPlanFLN10× and Q-Imaging Rolera EM-C2™ camera. Measure GFP and mCharry wavelength in exposure of 150 ms and EM Gain of 3850 using MetaMorph Microscopy Automation and Image Analysis Software. Measure DIC in exposure of 8 ms and EM Gain of 0. Perform image analysis using ImageJ.
[0132] Strains:
[0133] N2 (wild-type), dct-1 (tm376), pink-1 (tm1779), N2; Ex003[Pmyo-3TOMM-20:Rosella]
[0134] Materials
Ampicillin sodium salt (Sigma, Cat. No. A9518)
Bacto agar (BD-Difco, Cat. No. 214010)
Bacto peptone (BD-Difco, Cat. No. 211677)
Bacto tryptone (BD-Difco, Cat. No. 211705)
Bacto yeast extract (BD-Difco, Cat. No. 212750)
Calcium chloride (Sigma, Cat. No. C1016)
Cholesterol (Sigma, Cat. No. C8667)
Dibasic potassium phosphate (Sigma, Cat. No. P3786)
Double distilled water (DDW)
Ethyl 3-aminobenzoate methanesulfonate (Sigma, Cat. No. E10521)
Magnesium sulfate (Sigma, Cat. No. M2670)
Methyl Viologen hydrate (Sigma, Cat. No. 856177)
Olympus IX71S1F-3-5 inverted microscope (Olympus)
Olympus SZ61 stereo microscope (Olympus)
Potassium dihydrogen phosphate (Merck, Cat. No. 1.04873.1000)
Q-Imaging MicroPublisher 5.0 RTV Microscope Camera (QImaging, RHos)
[0135] Q-Imaging Rolera EM-C2™ camera (QImaging, RHos)
SeaKem® LE agarose (Lonsa, Cat. No. 50004)
Sodium chloride (Bio-Lab Cat. No. 0011903059100)
Sodium hydroxide (Gadot, Cat. No. 830224310)
Ultrospec 10 Cell density meter (biochrom)
UPlanFLN10× (Olympus)
[0136] Tetramisole hydrochloride (Sigma, Cat. No. L9756)
Example 4: 1,8-Diaminooctane Protects Against Oxidative Injury Caused by Paraquat
[0137] Mitophagy protects against oxidative stress (D. Dutta, J. Xu, J. S. Kim, W. A. Dunn, Jr., C. Leeuwenburgh, Upregulated autophagy protects cardiomyocytes from oxidative stress-induced toxicity, Autophagy 9 (3) (2013) 328-44). Therefore, if 1,8-Diaminooctane induces mitophagy, it should protect against paraquat toxicity. To test this, the worms were treated with increasing concentrations of 1,8-Diaminooctane (or with distilled water as a control) for ˜48 h and monitored their survival in 200 mM paraquat (PQ). All 1,8-Diaminooctane treatments increase the survival of worms significantly (
Example 5: 1,8-Diaminooctane Induces Mitophagy in the Nematode C. elegans
[0138] To demonstrate that 1,8-Diaminooctane induces mitophagy in C. elegans the Mito-Rosella genetically encoded sensor was used (see K. Palikaras, E. Lionaki, N. Tavernarakis, Coordination of mitophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis during ageing in C. elegans, Nature 521 (7553) (2015) 525-8). The Mito-Rosella sensor is composed of an N-terminal mitochondrial targeting sequence followed by a pH-insensitive red fluorescent protein (DsRed.T3) and a pH-sensitive green fluorescent protein (pHluorin) (
Example 6: The Protective Activity of 1,8-Diaminooctane is Mitophagy-Dependent
[0139] To prove that the protective activity of 1,8-Diaminooctane is mitophagy-dependent, two experiments were performed. In the first one, the effect of 1,8-Diaminooctane on the survival of dct-1 and pink-1 mutants in PQ was investigated. DCT-1 is an orthologue of the mammalian NIX/BNIP3L and BNIP3 that act as mitophagy receptors, and PINK-1 is a mitochondrial phosphatase and tensin (PTEN)-induced kinase 1 which has a critical function in mitophagy (see K. Palikaras, E. Lionaki, N. Tavernarakis, Coordination of mitophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis during ageing in C. elegans, Nature 521 (7553) (2015) 525-8; and
Example 7: 1,8-Diaminooctane Lengthen the Average Lifespan of Worms
[0140] A Previous study showed that mitophagy extends the lifespan of C. elegans (see D. Ryu, L. Mouchiroud, P. A. Andreux, E. Katsyuba, N. Moullan, A. A. Nicolet-Dit-Felix, E. G. Williams, P. Jha, G. Lo Sasso, D. Huzard, P. Aebischer, C. Sandi, C. Rinsch, J. Auwerx, Urolithin A induces mitophagy and prolongs lifespan in C. elegans and increases muscle function in rodents, Nat Med 22 (8) (2016) 879-88). Since 1,8-Diaminooctane induces mitophagy, it was hypothesized that it will also lengthen worms' lifespan. To test it, the lifespan of worms grown on plates containing 0.25 mM and 4 mM 1,8-Diaminooctane (or vehicle as a control) was measured. The 4 mM 1,8-Diaminooctane treatment significantly lengthened worms' median lifespan (
Example 8: 1,8-Diaminooctane Improves the Locomotory Activity of C. elegans in Old Age
[0141] To explore whether 1,8-Diaminooctane improves healthspan, speed measurements in young-adult worms (3 days post L1 stage) and in mid-aged worms (11 days post L stage) were performed. Previous studies showed that short physical performance assays are correlated with healthspan of worms (and humans). For example, long-lived daf-2 mutants maintain high vigor in old age and high speed on plates without food (see J. H. Hahm, S. Kim, R. DiLoreto, C. Shi, S. J. Lee, C. T. Murphy, H. G. Nam, C. elegans maximum velocity correlates with healthspan and is maintained in worms with an insulin receptor mutation, Nat Commun 6 (2015) 8919). On day 3 (post L1), 1,8-Diaminooctane-treated and non-treated worms had similar speed (
Example 9: Longer, but not Shorter Chain Diamines Protect Against Paraquat Toxicity
[0142] A Previous study showed that long chain diamines (NH.sub.2(CH.sub.2).sub.xNH.sub.2; x=9,10,12) have antiproliferative properties, whereas short diamines (NH.sub.2(CH.sub.2).sub.xNH.sub.2; x=2-8) do not (see R. Hochreiter, T. M. Weiger, S. Colombatto, T. Langer, T. J. Thomas, C. Cabella, W. Heidegger, M. A. Grillo, A. Hermann, Long chain diamines inhibit growth of C6 glioma cells according to their hydrophobicity. An in vitro and molecular modeling study, Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 361 (3) (2000) 235-46). To test whether long chain diamines are also potent against paraquat toxicity, the worms were exposed to 1,10-Diaminodecane and 1,12-Diaminododecane (0.25 and 4 mM) and measured their survival in 200 mM PQ. In addition, a short diamine (1,6-Diaminohexane) at the same concentrations (
Example 10: Compounds of the Invention Protect Against Oxidative Injury Caused by Paraquat
[0143] To explore the potency of compounds of the invention: 1,6-diguanidinohexane, 1,9-diaminooxy-nonane, 1,8-diaminooxy-octane, 1,8-diaminooctane, and 1,8-diguanidinooctane, the PQ survival experiment was performed. The compounds were each tested at two concentrations: 0.0625 mM and 0.25 mM. Notably, at these concentrations, the compounds of the invention significantly improved the survival of worms in PQ (for example see
[0144] While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents will now occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.