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Professor Mary Jane Meegan

Fellow Emeritus (Pharmacy)
      
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Professor Mary Jane Meegan

Fellow Emeritus (Pharmacy)

 


Mary J Meegan completed her PhD degree in UCD under the direction of Professor Dervilla Donnelly in the area of natural product chemistry and subsequently carried out postdoctoral research at the University Chemical Laboratory, Cambridge University in the research group of Professor Alan Battersby in the area of porphyrin synthesis and biosynthesis. Following further research periods at University College Dubin and CNRS Gif-sur-Yvette, she was appointed as lecturer in Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Trinity College Dublin. She has research experience in the School of Pharmacy and and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College in the general area of pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry, with over 100 peer-reviewed scientific papers covering topics such as design and synthesis of anticancer drugs, drug impurity profiling, synthetic methods for library design and in vitro screening. She has extensive experience in scientific and technical management having led an active research group, has acted as Head of the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and as subject area head of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the School of Pharmacy. Research collaborations have been established within Trinity College with Dr. Niamh O'Boyle (School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences), Dr D Zisterer, Dr D Fayne in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology and also with many European research centres. She is a member of several International Scientific Societies.
  Amphetamines   Anticancer Drug Design   Antiestrogens   Carbapenem antibiotics   Chemistry of drug metabolism   Chemistry of drug receptor interactions   Design and synthesis of drugs   Drug development   Molecular modelling of Estrogen Receptor antagonists   Pharmacologically active heterocycles
Project Title
 Design, synthesis and evaluation of heterocyclic derivatives of 3,4,5-trimethoxystyrene as microtubule binding agents
From
September 2013
To
September 2017
Summary
This research project will examine the molecular design, chemistry and biochemical activity of some heterocyclic derivatives of 3,4,5-trimethoxystyrene as microtubule binding agents, with potential therapeutic use as anticancer agents in breast cancer. Advances in breast cancer research have established the existence of clinical disease sub-types, each with distint pathologies, course of disease progression and response to therapeutic intervention. Survival outcomes have increased dramatically in recent years for estrogen receptor(ER) positive disease largely due to the routine use of the antiestrogen tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors such as anastrazole. However, significant disease subtypes such as "triple negative " breast tcancer (lacking expression of ER, progesterone or HER-2 receptor; approx 15% of cases) present a difficult challemge with standard chemotherapy having little impact on overall survival. Treatment of HER-2 positive breast cancer, a sub-type characterised by frequent metastatic progression is also clinically challenging although agents such as the moniclonal antibody trastuzumab have proved very useful. There is an ongoing clinical requirement for the identification of more targeted and selective agents as potential breast cancer drugs for the various breast cancer groups. Microtubule binding agents (MBAs) are an important category of anticancer drugs aiming to inhibit the assembly of tubulin to microtubules or the disassembly of microtubules to tubulin, thus blocking the cell division. Among all the natural products that possess such mechanism of action, colchicine and combretastatin A-4 have driven the interest of many research groups, due to their structural simplicity and antiproliferative activities. This project will focus on the design of heterocyclic amide derivatives of combretastatin A-4. The compounds identified for synthesis in this research group are a new series of heterocyclic derivatives of the 3,4,5-trimethoxystyrene scaffold having increased water solubility, and therefore are very suitable chemical scaffolds for development as potential biologically active compounds.
Project Type
Interdisciplinary Research
Person Months
48
Project Title
 Design and evaluation of novel molecules to target chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)
From
September 2015
To
September 2019
Summary
Cancers of the lymphatic cells (lymphomas) account for approximately 12% of malignant diseases worldwide and 80% of these cases are subdivided into non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL). As part of an ongoing research project we have sought to identify possible alternatives to the current clinical drugs used in the treatments for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia(CLL). We have recently discovered structural derivatives of the anti-depressant drug maprotiline which are effective against Burkitt's lymphoma and related lymphomas and are potential new targets for the design of compounds with activity against chronic lymphocytic leukaemia(CLL). We have previously demonstrated that a series of these maprotiline related 9,10-ethanoanthracenes express significant antiproliferative effects in vitro in two BL cell lines: EBV- MUTU-I and the chemoresistant EBV+ DG75 lymphoma cell lines. The objective of this project is the design and evaluation of novel small molecules which target chronic lymphocytic leukaemia(CLL). Based on our previous studies, a small focussed library of structurally related anthracene and related compounds will be designed and chemically characterised. Many of these compounds contained a classic nitrostyrene or unsaturated ketone core which have also been previously shown to possess activity in the Burkitt lymphoma cell lines. In this project the structures proposed for investigation are based on the anthracene and related ethano-anthracene scaffolds. These compounds will be synthesised via a number of established routes and each compound will be subsequently characterised by spectroscopic methods (1H and 13C NMR, IR and HRMS). The antiproliferative activities of the compounds will be evaluated using two EBV-transformed CLL cell lines PGA and HG3. A possible mechanism of action for the compounds will be investigated. The structure activity relationships for the series of products will also be examined.
Project Type
Interdisciplinary Research
Person Months
48
Project Title
 New targets for old drugs: Development of novel -lactams with anticancer activity
From
2015
To
2017
Summary
This project will examine the chemistry and biochemical activity of novel fluorinated -lactam molecules and will assess their potential anticancer activity. Naturally occurring and synthetic β-lactams (azetidin-2-ones) are best known for their potent antibacterial activities. Molecules containing the azetidinone (β-lactam) heterocycles have also been demonstrated to have additional alternative potent and interesting activities, and occupy a central place among medicinally important compounds. Examples of the azetidin-2-one scaffold have recently been investigated as cytotoxic agents and as inhibitors of proteases such as leukocyte elastase, gelatinases and tryptases. Many nitrogen containing heterocyclic compounds e.g thiazoles, pyrroles, indoles etc. have been designed as tubulin targetting agents which bind to tubulin and disrupt mitosis in cancer cells. We have previously demonstrated that the azetidin-2-one(β-lactam) ring structure can be modified to result in compounds with potent antitumour activity in a wide range of cancer cell lines, e.g. breast, lung, prostate and leukaemia cell lines. These compounds also result in cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. In this project, the use of the four-membered nitrogen heterocycle azetidin-2-one (β-lactam) ring as a scaffold for bioactive compounds is investigated in an effort to gain access to novel therapeutic agents that possess vascular targeting and potent anticancer effects in tumour cells. The specific effects on biological activity of the introduction of a fluorine substituent on the azetidinone scaffold will be investigated to optimise the potency of selected examples.
Project Type
Interdisciplinary Research
Person Months
24
Project Title
 b-Lactam analogues of combretastatin A-4 prevent metabolic inactivation by glucuronidation in chemoresistant HT-29 colon cancer cells
From
2012
To
2017
Summary
Glucuronidation by uridine 5-diphosphoglucuronosyl transferase enzymes (UGTs) is a cause of intrinsic drug resistance in cancer cells. Glucuronidation of combretastatin A-4 (CA-4) was previously identified as a mechanism of resistance in hepatocellular cancer cells. In the project we propose chemical manipulation of b- lactam bridged analogues of Combretastatin A-4 as a novel means of overcoming drug resistance associated with glucuronidation due to the expression of UGTs in the CA-4 resistant human colon cancer HT-29 cells. The alkene bridge of CA-4 is replaced with a b-lactam ring to circumvent potential iso- merisation while the potential sites of glucuronate conjugation are deleted in the novel 3-substituted- 1,4-diaryl-2-azetidinone analogues of CA-4. We hypothesise that glucuronidation of CA-4 is the mech- anism of drug resistance in HT-29 cells. Ring B thioether containing 2-azetidinone analogues of CA-4 such as 4-(4-(methylthio)phenyl)-3-phenyl-1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)azetidin-2-one (27) and 3- hydroxy-4-(4-(methylthio)phenyl)-1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)azetidin-2-one (45) were identified as the most potent inhibitors of tumour cell growth, independent of UGT status, displaying antiproliferative activity in the low nanomolar range. These compounds also disrupted the microtubular structure in MCF- 7 and HT-29 cells, and caused G2/M arrest and apoptosis. Taken together, these findings highlight the potential of chemical manipulation as a means of overcoming glucuronidation attributed drug resistance in CA-4 resistant human colon cancer HT-29 cells, allowing the development of therapeutically superior analogues.
Funding Agency
King Abdul Aziz University - Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Project Type
Interdisciplinary Research
Person Months
48

Details Date
Guest Editor of Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry 2005/2006
Language Skill Reading Skill Writing Skill Speaking
English Fluent Fluent Fluent
Details Date From Date To
Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry 1977 Present
Member of the American Chemical Society 1997 Present
Member of the Society of the Chemical Industry Chartered Chemist 1990 Present
James Patrick McKeown, Andrew J Byrne, Sandra A Bright, Clara E Charleton, Shubhangi Kandwal, Ivan Cmelo, Brendan Twamley, Anthony M McElligott, Darren Fayne, Niamh M O'Boyle, D.Clive Williams, Mary Jane Meegan, Synthesis and Biochemical evaluation of Ethanoanthracenes and Related Compounds: Antiproliferative and Pro-apoptotic Effects in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL), Pharmaceuticals, 17, (8), 2024, p1034 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI  URL
Wang S., Malebari A.M., Greene T.F., Kandwal S., Fayne D., Nathwani S.M., Zisterer D.M., Twamley B., O'Boyle N.M., Meegan M.J., Antiproliferative and Tubulin-Destabilising Effects of 3-(Prop-1-en-2-yl)azetidin-2-Ones and Related Compounds in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells, Pharmaceuticals, 16, (7), 2023, p1000-, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI  URL
McLoughlin E.C., Twamley B., O'Brien J.E., Hannon Barroeta P., Zisterer D.M., Meegan M.J., O'Boyle N.M., Synthesis by diastereomeric resolution, biochemical evaluation and molecular modelling of chiral 3-hydroxyl b-lactam microtubule-targeting agents for the treatment of triple negative breast and chemoresistant colorectal cancers, Bioorganic Chemistry, 141, 2023, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI  URL
Byrne A.J., Bright S.A., McKeown J.P., Bergin A., Twamley B., McElligott A.M., Noorani S., Kandwal S., Fayne D., O'Boyle N.M., Williams D.C., Meegan M.J., Synthesis and Pro-Apoptotic Effects of Nitrovinylanthracenes and Related Compounds in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) and Burkitt's Lymphoma (BL), Molecules, 28, (24), 2023, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI  URL
McLoughlin EC, O'Brien JE, Trujillo C, Meegan MJ, O'Boyle NM., Application of 2D EXSY and qNMR Spectroscopy for Diastereomeric Excess Determination Following Chiral Resolution of Beta-Lactams, ChemistryOpen, 2022, pe202200119 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Gloria Ana, Patrick M. Kelly, Azizah M. Malebari, Sara Noorani, Seema M. Nathwani, Brendan Twamley, Darren Fayne, Niamh M. O'Boyle, Daniela M. Zisterer, Elisangela Flavia Pimentel, Denise Coutinho Endringer and Mary J. Meegan, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 1-(Diarylmethyl)-1H-1,2,4-Triazoles and 1-(Diarylmethyl)-1H-Imidazoles as a Novel Class of Anti-Mitotic Agent for Activity in Breast Cancer, Pharmaceuticals, 14, (2), 2021, p169-, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI  URL
Malebari A.M., Wang S., Greene T.F., O'Boyle N.M., Fayne D., Khan M.F., Nathwani S.M., Twamley B., McCabe T., Zisterer D.M., Meegan M.J., Synthesis and antiproliferative evaluation of 3-chloroazetidin-2-ones with antimitotic activity: Heterocyclic bridged analogues of combretastatin A-4, Pharmaceuticals, 14, (11), 2021, part. 1119-, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Miriam Carr, Andrew J.S. Knox, Daniel K. Nevin, Niamh O'Boyle, Shu Wang, Billy Egan, Thomas McCabe, Brendan Twamley, Daniela M. Zisterer, David G. Lloyd, Mary J. Meegan, Optimisation of Estrogen Receptor Subtype-Selectivity of a 4-Aryl-4H-Chromene Scaffold Previously Identified by Virtual Screening, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 28, (5), 2020, p115261-, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Azizah M. Malebari, Darren Fayne, Seema M. Nathwani, Fiona O'Connell, Sara Noorani, Brendan Twamley, Niamh M. O'Boyle, Jacintha O'Sullivan, Daniela M. Zisterer, Mary J. Meegan, Beta-lactams with antiproliferative and antiapoptotic activity in breast and chemoresistant colon cancer cells, European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 189, 2020, p112050-, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI  URL
Twamley, B., O'Boyle, N.M., Meegan, M.J., Azetidin-2-ones: Structures of antimitotic compounds based on the 1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)azetidin-2-one core, Acta Crystallographica Section E: Crystallographic Communications, 76, 2020, p1187 - 1194, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI  URL
  

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Niamh O'Boyle(ed.), 30th Annual GP2A Medicinal Chemistry Conference, Pharmaceuticals, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, 16, (3), 24-26th August 2022, 2023, 432-, Proceedings of a Conference, PUBLISHED
Mary J. Meegan and Niamh M. O'Boyle, Special Issue 'Anticancer Drugs 2021', Pharmaceuticals, 15, (4), 2022, p479-, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Eavan Ciara McLoughlin, Mary Meegan, Niamh O'Boyle, Stories from Staudinger: Synthesis of chiral beta-lactams, 5th International Electronic Conference on Medicinal Chemistry, Online at https://sciforum.net/conference/ECMC2019, November 2019, 2019, Poster, PRESENTED
James Patrick Mc Keown, Clara Charleton, Keith Ferris, Sara Noorani, Niamh M O'Boyle, Mary J Meegan, Ethanoanthracenes: Potential chemotherapeutics for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), 4th International Electronic Conference on Medicinal Chemistry, Online at www.sciforum.net/conference/ecmc-4, November 2018, edited by MDPI , 2018, Poster, PUBLISHED
Niamh M. O'Boyle, Daniela M. Zisterer, Mary J. Meegan, Lead Optimization of Benzoxepin-Type Selective Estrogen Receptor (ER) Modulators and Downregulators with Subtype-Specific ERalpha and ERbeta Activity, Proceedings of the 3rd Int. Electron. Conf. Med. Chem., 3rd International Electronic Conference on Medicinal Chemistry, November 2017, edited by Annie Mayence and Jean Jacques Vanden Eynde , 11, (1), Pharmaceuticals, 2017, pp18-, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED
Niamh M. O'Boyle, Daniela M. Zisterer, Mary J. Meegan, Microtubule-Destabilising Actions of Piperlongumine and Analogues, Proceedings of the 3rd Int. Electron. Conf. Med. Chem., 3rd International Electronic Conference on Medicinal Chemistry, November 2017, edited by Annie Mayence and Jean Jacques Vanden Eynde , 11, (1), Pharmaceuticals, 2017, pp18-, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED
Thomas F. Greene, Thomas McCabe, Mary J. Meegan., The รข-Lactam Ring as a Scaffold for Combretastatin A-4 Analogues, 2006All Ireland Schools of Pharmacy, 28th Research Seminar, Queens University Belfast, April 10-11, 2006, 2006, ppP52-, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED
Cormac A. O'Donohoe, Andrew S. Knox, and Mary J. Meegan, Antiproliferative and physiological stability studies , 2006All Ireland Schools of Pharmacy 28th Research Seminar, Queens University Belfast, April 10-11, 2006, 2006, ppP14-, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED
Jason Horan and Mary J. Meegan, Synthesis and characterisation of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines:, 2006All Ireland Schools of Pharmacy28th Research Seminar, Queens University Belfast, April 10-11, 2006, 2006, ppP24-, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED
N.O. Keely, M.J. Meegan, Design, synthesis and evaluation of dual acting estrogen receptor conjugates, 2006All Ireland Schools of Pharmacy 28th Research Seminar, Queens University Belfast, April 10-11, 2006, 2006, pp40-, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED

  


Page 1 of 6
Award Date
Royal Commission 1851 Overseas Postdoctoral Fellowship 1976
Hugh Ryan Gold Medal in Chemistry, University College Dublin 1973
My research interests lie in Pharmaceutical Chemistry in the rational design of new medicines, specifically in the design of highly potent and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) which may be utilised in the treatment of breast cancer and osteoporosis. Extensive molecular modelling analysis of the specific interactions between drugs such as tamoxifen and raloxifene and models of the protein target (the Estrogen Receptor) has led to the design and synthesis of novel structurally modified estrogen receptor modulators with altered selectivity and affinity for the protein receptor. Ongoing research themes examine the relationship between structure and antiproliferative activity of these products against MCF-7 breast cancer cells, and may lead to a better understanding of the specific structural requirements for estrogen receptor agonist and antagonist activity. This research work is carried out in collaboration with Dr. D. Zisterer and Professor Clive Williams in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College Dublin. Related research interests include the investigation of the mechanism of action of novel cytotoxic heterocycles against breast cancer cell lines (both ER+ and ER-) and CLL(Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia) and the development of virtual high throughput screening computational methodologies for the identification of new anticancer molecular scaffolds. In addition, we have extensive expertise in the area of impurity profiling of amphetamines and related ecstasy type drugs of abuse and also have established current research projects involving the design and evaluation of novel selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.