Chemists discover true structure of anticancer agent

In chemists’ parlance, the 2 compounds are constitutional isomers: a linear imidazolinopyrimidinone and an angular imidazolinopyrimidinone.

And Dr Lockner found that the angular, TRAIL-inducing structure was easier to synthesize than the one originally described.

Now, with the correct molecule in hand and a solid understanding of its structure and synthesis, Dr Janda and his team are moving forward with their original plan to study TIC10 in combination with TRAIL-resistance-thwarting molecules as an anticancer therapy.

The therapeutic implications of TIC10 may even go beyond cancer, according to the researchers. The angular core of the TRAIL-inducing molecule Dr Janda’s team discovered is a novel type of a biologically active structure, or pharmacophore, from which chemists may now be able to build a new class of candidate drugs, possibly for a variety of ailments.