Contacts

Group head: 

Jaroslav Nisler

Centre: 

Krč

Address: 

Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Praha 4

Email: 

nislerbiomed [dot] cas [dot] cz

Phone: 

+420 241 062 485

Fields of work:

1. Synthesis and investigation of urea derivatives with activity on suppressing plant stress
2. Synthesis of cytokinins, including labeling with 3H in specific carbon centers
3. Custom synthesis of compounds labeled with 3H and/or 14C
4. Synthesis and investigation of derivatives of purine, pyrimidine and other heterocycles with cytotoxic and anti-tumor activity
5. Investigation of root system of selected plants in water purification
6. Analysis and transformations of compounds by radiotracer methods in plants and animals
7. Analysis and investigation of effect of heavy metals and/or metaloids on plant hyperaccumulators
8. Chemical biology and supramolecular chemistry of triterpenoid derivatives

8. Chemical biology and supramolecular chemistry of triterpenoid derivatives
Cancer stem cells represent a sub-population of cancer cells showing increasing activity of factors resulting in appearance of cancer. They represent mostly a key reason of unsuccessful treatment of this disease. Cancer stem cells show important molecular and functional differences based on their phenotypes. Cancer stem cells are capable of spreading the cancer in the organism. These findings clearly indicate an increasing need for designing novel types of compounds with a potential against rapid metabolism in the organism caused by cancer stem cells. Because targeting the cancer stem cells directly is difficult, the studied compounds are subjected to the cytotoxicity screening tests, and antimicrobial and antiviral activity tests. The only compounds with exceptional effectiveness are subjected to more detailed investigation.
A number of convenient triterpenoid derivatives, namely their amides and other types of derivatives with polyamines, heterocyclic nitrogen-containing compounds or amino acids often show potential to become convenient candidates for cancer cell treatment, including cancer stem cell treatment. Because number of triterpenoid derivatives display supramolecular characteristics under different environmental conditions, we have focused attention on these systems during investigation of potentially cytotoxic compounds. Supramolecular systems may often be seen on a macroscopic level as organogels, hydrogels or xerogels affecting the cytotoxicity of the studied compounds. The main objective of the investigation is designing novel triterpenoid-based biologically active compounds, potentially applicable in treatment of important ailments, with sufficient selectivity of their effects. Those studies include targeted transportation of the biologically active compounds to the target sites. The studies also include convenient radioisotope labeling or coordination of convenient metal salts, e.g. 64Cu(II).
Shared research:
University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague (www.vscht.cz)
Collaboration:
Professor Erkki T. Kolehmainen, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland (www.jyu.fi)
Professor Nonappa, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland (www.aalto.fi)
Professor Juyoung Yoon, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea (http://of2m.ewha.ac.kr/)
Dr. David Šaman, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences (www.uochb.cz)
Prof. Miroslav Strnad, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic (www.upol.cz)
Prof. Miroslav Šlouf, Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences (www.umch.cas.cz)
Dr. Marie Sajfrtová, Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals, Czech Academy of Sciences (www.icpf.cas.cz)