Education

PhD, University of South Carolina

Research Areas

Development of a novel, small-molecule brain-penetrant histone deacetylase inhibitor that enhances memory formation 

Histone acetylation is a prominent epigenetic modification linked to the memory loss symptoms associated with aging and neurodegenerative disease. Histone acetylation promotes gene transcription, which is required for the formation of long-term memories. Thus, compounds that maintain histone acetylation, called histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi), are promising therapeutics to treat memory loss associated with aging and neurodegenerative disease. However, use of existing HDACi for the treatment of central nervous system disorders is precluded by their weak blood-brain barrier permeability and undesirable toxicity. Here, we address these shortcomings by developing a new class of disulfide-based compounds that are inspired by the scaffold of the FDA-approved HDACi romidepsin (aka FK288, Istodax). Our findings indicate that our lead compound, MJM-1, increases overall level of histone 3 (H3) acetylation and displays cytotoxicity against a prostate cancer cell line. Utilizing the maximum tolerable dose determination assay, we observed that MJM-1 has a high tolerability profile in mice compared to romidepsin. Next, we found that when MJM-1 is administered intraperitoneally (i.p.), it rapidly crosses the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and travels to the hippocampus, a critical brain region responsible for memory formation. Consistent with this finding, we demonstrate that post-training i.p. administration of MJM-1 enhances hippocampal-dependent spatial, but not object recognition, memory consolidation in male mice. These findings collectively demonstrate that MJM-1 is a promising HDACi with low systemic toxicity and beneficial effects on memory formation. Thus, MJM-1 represents a potential lead for further optimization as a therapeutic strategy for ameliorating cognitive deficits in aging and neurodegenerative diseases.

Development of new microtubule inhibitors as anticancer agents

Microtubules are essential components of the cell cytoskeleton and play an important role in several cellular functions. Apart from many other critical functions, they are essential for the formation of the mitotic spindle, which provides the structural framework for the physical segregation of sister chromatids during cell division. Microtubule-inhibiting agents, which are currently among the front-line approaches to cancer chemotherapy, include compounds that interfere with either the assembly or disassembly of microtubules, thereby suppressing microtubule dynamics required for proper mitotic spindle function in rapidly dividing cells. The result is apoptosis or programmed cell death. Because of their potent antitumor activity, drugs targeting microtubules are among the most commonly prescribed anticancer agent. There are several natural products that modulate microtubule polymerization such as vinblastine, vincristine, and paclitaxel. These have been widely recognized as active chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of various cancers such as leukemia lung, breast, ovarian and esophageal cancer. To develop new microtubule inhibitors with high potency, low toxicity and good adoption, distribution, metabolism and elimination, we propose to synthesize specific analogs of TPS-A (Fig 1). TPS-A is a microtubule inhibitor having anti-phytopathogenic activity and inhibits cell cycle progression of tsFT210 cells in the G2/M phase at a concentration of 50 µg/mL. Thus, analogs of TPS-A hold great promise for the development of highly potent microtubule inhibitors. Several synthesis strategies have already been reported, but preclude the generation of a library of analogs due to lengthy and low yielding procedures. Our research objective is to generate analogs of TPS-A with significantly increased ability to reduce tumor growth. The hypothesis is that an analogue of TPS-A with an IC₅₀ in the lower micromolar or higher nanomolar range would allow for meaningful results in subsequent in vivo studies. Our approach is to advance previous scientific efforts and use molecular docking to guide the design of new molecules. We developed a synthetic strategy that will enable us to quickly synthesize new TPS-A analogs.

In 2019, we developed a convenient method to synthesize TPS-B in only six steps with 45 % overall yield. Later, we modified this procedure to prepare TPS-B in four steps from gramine 1 (Scheme 1). In the final step, we obtained two diastereomers which were separated by column chromatography.

Considering the previous results and SAR studies of TPS-A and its derivatives by utilizing our method, we propose to synthesize analogs of TPS-A by varying R, R’, and R’’ substituents in individual sets (Sets 1,2 and 3, Fig 2). All compounds will be evaluated using in vitro studies described below. The two most favorable substitutions from each Set will be combined to establish compounds in Set 4 (Set 4, Fig 2). As indicated in the flow chart, the biological activity of Set 4 will be tested once these compounds are synthesized. The top hits from the final set will be investigated in vivo.

Selected Publications

Mizzanoor Rahaman, Shahnawaz Ali, Khorshada Jahan, Damon Hinz, Jawad Bin Belayet, Ryan Majinski and M. Mahmun Hossain “Synthetic Scope of Brønsted Acid-Catalyzed Reactions of Carbonyl Compounds and Ethyl Diazoacetate” Journal of Organic Chemistry 2021, 86, 6138-6147. 10.1021/acs.joc.0c02972

Mizzanoor Rahaman, Shahnawaz Ali, Khorshada Jahan, Jawad Bin Belayet, AFM Towheedur Rahman and M. Mahmun Hossain “Chemistry of 3-Hydroxy-2-Aryl Acrylate: Synthesis, Mechanism and Applications” Organic Chemistry Frontiers 2021, 8, 169-191. 10.1039/D0QO01157F

Matt Huisman, Mizzanoor Rahaman, Sharif Asad, Sarah Oehm, Sherwin Novin, Arnold Rheingold and M. Mahmun Hossain “Total Synthesis of Tryprostatin B: Synthesis and Asymmetric Phase-Transfer Catalyzed Reaction of Prenylated Gramine Salt” Organic Letters  2019, 21, 134-137. 10.1021/acs.orglett.8b03593

Nazim Uddin, Mizaanoor Rahaman, Eduardo Alberch, Sharif Asad and. M Mahmun Hossain “Palladium(0) Catalyzed Rearrangement of Allyl Enol Ether to Form Chiral Quaternary Carbon Centers via Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation” Tetrahedron Letters 2018, 59(39), 3401-3404. 10.1016/j.tetlet.2018.07.065 This article is Highlighted in Synfacts 2018, 14(10), 1065. 10.1055/s-0037-1610954

Eduardo Alberch, Colin Brook, Sharif A. Asad, Maria Shevyrev, Joseph S. Ulicki, M. Mahmun Hossain “Stereoselective allyl enol carbonates for synthesis of chiral aldehydes bearing all carbon quaternary stereocenters via the decarboxylative asymmetric allylic alkylation (DAAA)” Synlett 2015, 26, 388-392. 10.1055/s-0034-1379601

Sharif Asad, Joseph Ulicki, Maria Shevyrev, Nazim Uddin, Edurado Aolberch and M. Mahmun Hossain “First Example of The Intramolecular Palladium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation of Hydroxyacrylates: Synthesis of All-Carbon α-Aryl Quaternary Aldehydes” European Journal of Organic Chemistry 2014, 26, 5695-5699. 10.1002/ejoc.201402911  This article is Highlightedin Synfacts, 2014, 10(12), 1296. 10.1055/s-0034-1379587

Robert Todd, Matthew Huisman, Nazim Uddin, Sarah Oehm and M. Mahmun Hossain “One-Pot Enantioselective Synthesis of Tryptophan Derivatives via Phase-Transfer  Catalytic Alkylation of Glycine Using a Cinchona-Derived Catalyst” Synlett 2012, 23,2687-2691. 10.1055/s-0032-1317382

Nazim Uddin, F. Holger Foersterling, Joseph S. Ulicki and M. Mahmun Hossain “Brønsted Acid-Catalyzed C-C Bond Forming Reaction for One Step Synthesis of Oxazinanones” Tetrahedron Letters 2011, 52, 4353-4356. 10.1016/j.tetlet.2011.06.054

Ronald Theys, Matt Dudley and M. Mahmun Hossain “Recent Chemistry of the ⁵-Cyclopentadienyl Dicarbonyl Iron Anion” Coordination Chemistry Reviews 2009, 253, 180-234. 10.1016/j.ccr.2007.12.022

Matt Dudley, Monzur Morshed, M. Mahmun Hossain “A Convenient Method of Synthesizing 3-ethoxycarbonyl Benzofurans from Salicylaldehydes and Ethyl Diazoacetate” Synthesis 2006, 1711-1714. 10.1055/s-2006-926454

Shahidul Islam, Courtney Brennan, Qinwei Wang, M. Mahmun Hossain “Convenient Method of Synthesizing 3-Ethoxycarbonyl Indoles” Journal of Organic Chemistry 2006, 71, 4675-4679. 10.1021/jo0601821

Matt Dudley, Monzur Morshed, Courtney Brennan, Shahidul Islam, Syarhabil Ahmad, Mary-Rose Atuu, Bryan Branstetter, M. Mahmun Hossain “Acid Catalyzed Reactions of Aromatic ldehydes with Ethyl Diazoacetate: An Investigation on the Synthesis of 3-hydroxy-2-arylacrylic Acid Ethyl Esters” Journal of Organic Chemistry 2004, 69, 7599-7608. 10.1021/jo0489418