Cyclophilin A are a class of peptidyl-prolyl isomerases that catalyzes isomerization of the proline residue within a protein. Cyclophilin A plays an instrumental role in the pathogenesis of HIV and HCV virus. Using structure-based drug we designed and synthesized small molecule inhibitors of cyclophilin A. These inhibitors were biologically evaluated for their ability to inhibit WT HIV-1 inhibition.
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase signaling cascades plays a critical role in cancer cell survival, metastasis, and chemo-resistance. The MEK5/ERK5 pathway, which is a member of MAPK signaling cascade, is involved in cell survival, anti-apoptotic signaling, angiogenesis, and cell motility. It is found to be significantly upregulated in breast cancers especially triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC). Despite its strong correlation with cancer, the MEK5/ERK5 pathway remains under-explored due to the lack of selective small-molecule inhibitors. Using the x-ray crystal structure of known MEK1/2 inhibitors bound to MEK1/2 (PDB ID: 3EQC and 3SLS) the homology model of MEK5 was built, and along with medicinal chemistry approaches, it was utilized for the design of diphenylamine and 2-amino-3-carboxythiophene derivatives as selective MEK5 inhibitors. During the development of 2-amino-3-carboxythiophene derivatives as MEK5 inhibitors, Ullmann couplings reactions were optimized for the installation of aryl ring on the 2-amino position.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by the buildup of amyloid plaques, accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles, inflammation of the neurons, and neuronal loss leading to cognitive decline. Current drugs provide only brief symptomatic relief without modifying the underlying disease pathology. Emerging data suggest that inhibition of sigma-2 receptors has the potential to deliver disease-modifying AD drugs. Using pharmacophore analysis and analog-based drug design, two novel series of piperazine derivatives were synthesized as sigma-2 receptor antagonists.
","abstract_html":"<p>Cyclophilin A are a class of peptidyl-prolyl isomerases that catalyzes isomerization of the proline residue within a protein. Cyclophilin A plays an instrumental role in the pathogenesis of HIV and HCV virus. Using structure-based drug we designed and synthesized small molecule inhibitors of cyclophilin A. These inhibitors were biologically evaluated for their ability to inhibit WT HIV-1 inhibition.</p> <p>Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase signaling cascades plays a critical role in cancer cell survival, metastasis, and chemo-resistance. The MEK5/ERK5 pathway, which is a member of MAPK signaling cascade, is involved in cell survival, anti-apoptotic signaling, angiogenesis, and cell motility. It is found to be significantly upregulated in breast cancers especially triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC). Despite its strong correlation with cancer, the MEK5/ERK5 pathway remains under-explored due to the lack of selective small-molecule inhibitors. Using the x-ray crystal structure of known MEK1/2 inhibitors bound to MEK1/2 (PDB ID: 3EQC and 3SLS) the homology model of MEK5 was built, and along with medicinal chemistry approaches, it was utilized for the design of diphenylamine and 2-amino-3-carboxythiophene derivatives as selective MEK5 inhibitors. During the development of 2-amino-3-carboxythiophene derivatives as MEK5 inhibitors, Ullmann couplings reactions were optimized for the installation of aryl ring on the 2-amino position.</p> <p>Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by the buildup of amyloid plaques, accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles, inflammation of the neurons, and neuronal loss leading to cognitive decline. Current drugs provide only brief symptomatic relief without modifying the underlying disease pathology. Emerging data suggest that inhibition of sigma-2 receptors has the potential to deliver disease-modifying AD drugs. Using pharmacophore analysis and analog-based drug design, two novel series of piperazine derivatives were synthesized as sigma-2 receptor antagonists.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["GUPTA, MOHIT"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"PhD","degree_level":"One-year Embargo","degree_discipline":"Medicinal Chemistry","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Patrick Flaherty","Aleem Gangjee","Marc Harrold","Kevin Tidgewell","Jane E. Cavanaugh","Carl Anderson"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2019,"date_issued":"2019-12-20T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2019-12-20T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:10:58Z","subjects":["MEK5 CYCLOPHILIN SIGMA SMALL MOLECULES DESIGN SYNTHESIS","Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry"],"languages":["English"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/1825","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Patrick Flaherty","Aleem Gangjee","Marc Harrold","Kevin Tidgewell","Jane E. Cavanaugh","Carl Anderson"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["GUPTA, MOHIT"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2020-12-20T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Medicinal Chemistry"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["One-year Embargo"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["PhD"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["MEK5 CYCLOPHILIN SIGMA SMALL MOLECULES DESIGN SYNTHESIS","Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["English"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/1825"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Cyclophilin A are a class of peptidyl-prolyl isomerases that catalyzes isomerization of the proline residue within a protein. Cyclophilin A plays an instrumental role in the pathogenesis of HIV and HCV virus. Using structure-based drug we designed and synthesized small molecule inhibitors of cyclophilin A. These inhibitors were biologically evaluated for their ability to inhibit WT HIV-1 inhibition.
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase signaling cascades plays a critical role in cancer cell survival, metastasis, and chemo-resistance. The MEK5/ERK5 pathway, which is a member of MAPK signaling cascade, is involved in cell survival, anti-apoptotic signaling, angiogenesis, and cell motility. It is found to be significantly upregulated in breast cancers especially triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC). Despite its strong correlation with cancer, the MEK5/ERK5 pathway remains under-explored due to the lack of selective small-molecule inhibitors. Using the x-ray crystal structure of known MEK1/2 inhibitors bound to MEK1/2 (PDB ID: 3EQC and 3SLS) the homology model of MEK5 was built, and along with medicinal chemistry approaches, it was utilized for the design of diphenylamine and 2-amino-3-carboxythiophene derivatives as selective MEK5 inhibitors. During the development of 2-amino-3-carboxythiophene derivatives as MEK5 inhibitors, Ullmann couplings reactions were optimized for the installation of aryl ring on the 2-amino position.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by the buildup of amyloid plaques, accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles, inflammation of the neurons, and neuronal loss leading to cognitive decline. Current drugs provide only brief symptomatic relief without modifying the underlying disease pathology. Emerging data suggest that inhibition of sigma-2 receptors has the potential to deliver disease-modifying AD drugs. Using pharmacophore analysis and analog-based drug design, two novel series of piperazine derivatives were synthesized as sigma-2 receptor antagonists.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Design, Synthesis, & Biological Evaluation of Novel Het-Aromatic/Aromatic Analogs for the Treatment of HIV, Cancer, & Cognitive Dysfunctions"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Patrick Flaherty","Aleem Gangjee","Marc Harrold","Kevin Tidgewell","Jane E. Cavanaugh","Carl Anderson"],"dc:creator":["GUPTA, MOHIT"],"dc:date.available":["2020-12-20T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Cyclophilin A are a class of peptidyl-prolyl isomerases that catalyzes isomerization of the proline residue within a protein. Cyclophilin A plays an instrumental role in the pathogenesis of HIV and HCV virus. Using structure-based drug we designed and synthesized small molecule inhibitors of cyclophilin A. These inhibitors were biologically evaluated for their ability to inhibit WT HIV-1 inhibition.
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase signaling cascades plays a critical role in cancer cell survival, metastasis, and chemo-resistance. The MEK5/ERK5 pathway, which is a member of MAPK signaling cascade, is involved in cell survival, anti-apoptotic signaling, angiogenesis, and cell motility. It is found to be significantly upregulated in breast cancers especially triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC). Despite its strong correlation with cancer, the MEK5/ERK5 pathway remains under-explored due to the lack of selective small-molecule inhibitors. Using the x-ray crystal structure of known MEK1/2 inhibitors bound to MEK1/2 (PDB ID: 3EQC and 3SLS) the homology model of MEK5 was built, and along with medicinal chemistry approaches, it was utilized for the design of diphenylamine and 2-amino-3-carboxythiophene derivatives as selective MEK5 inhibitors. During the development of 2-amino-3-carboxythiophene derivatives as MEK5 inhibitors, Ullmann couplings reactions were optimized for the installation of aryl ring on the 2-amino position.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by the buildup of amyloid plaques, accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles, inflammation of the neurons, and neuronal loss leading to cognitive decline. Current drugs provide only brief symptomatic relief without modifying the underlying disease pathology. Emerging data suggest that inhibition of sigma-2 receptors has the potential to deliver disease-modifying AD drugs. Using pharmacophore analysis and analog-based drug design, two novel series of piperazine derivatives were synthesized as sigma-2 receptor antagonists.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/1825"],"dc:language":["English"],"dc:subject":["MEK5 CYCLOPHILIN SIGMA SMALL MOLECULES DESIGN SYNTHESIS","Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry"],"dc:title":["Design, Synthesis, & Biological Evaluation of Novel Het-Aromatic/Aromatic Analogs for the Treatment of HIV, Cancer, & Cognitive Dysfunctions"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Medicinal Chemistry"],"thesis:degree_level":["One-year Embargo"],"thesis:degree_name":["PhD"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:10:58Z"}