Total Synthesis of Crocagin A

Crocagin A ( 1 ) combines an attractive molecular structure with an unusual biosynthesis and bioactivity. An efficient synthesis of crocagin A is presented that hinges on an early formation of the heterotricyclic core, an electrophilic amination, and the stereoselective hydrogenation of a tetrasubstituted double bond. This synthesis confirms the absolute configuration of crocagin A and provides access to the natural product and derivatives thereof for further biological testing.     

Recent research and development of DYRK1A inhibitors

Dual specificity tyrosine phosphorylation regulated kinase 1 A(DYRK1 A) is an evolutionarily conserved protein kinase belonging to the CMGC kinase family, which is closely related to Down syndrome(DS)and Alzheimer’s disease(AD). In recent years, not only the treatment of diabetes, but also the treatment of cancer gradually focuses on targeting DYRK1 A. Therefore, a series of DYRK1 A inhibitors have been developed to treat relevant diseases and clarify their treatment mechanism furtherly. DYRK1 A...     

Synthesis and biological activities of 4-phenyl-5-pyridyl-1,3-thiazole derivatives as selective adenosine A3 antagonists

To investigate the potency of an adenosine A3 receptor (A3AR) antagonist as an anti-asthmatic drug, a novel series of 4-phenyl-5-pyridyl-1,3-thiazole derivatives was synthesized and evaluated in human adenosine A1, A2A and A3 receptor and rat adenosine A3 receptor binding assays. From investigation of the SAR study, compound 7af was identified as a highly potent human and rat A3AR antagonist. This compound inhibited IB-MECA-induced plasma protein extravasation in the skin of rats and showed good oral absorption. Also, compound 7af significantly inhibited antigen-induced hyper-responsiveness to acetylcholine in actively sensitized Brown Norway rats. These results show that 4-phenyl-5-pyridyl-1,3-thiazole derivatives are potential candidates to enable the evaluation of A3AR antagonists. Further evaluation of this class of compounds may afford a novel anti-inflammatory agent such as an anti-asthmatic drug.     

Molecularly asymmetric triblock copolymers as a single-molecule route to ordered bidisperse polymer brushes

The conditions signaling the formation of bidisperse brushes in ordered block copolymers are investigated as an A(2) block is progressively grown onto an A(1)B diblock copolymer to form a series of molecularly asymmetric, isomorphic A(1)BA(2) triblock copolymers. Small-angle scattering and self-consistent field theory confirm that the microphase-ordered period decreases when the A(2) block is short relative to the A(1) block, but then increases as A(1)+A(2) bidisperse brushes develop. The mechanical properties systematically follow the spatial distribution of the A(2) block.     

A walk around the A3-coupling

In recent years, the transition-metal catalyzed three-component coupling of an aldehyde, an alkyne and an amine, commonly called A(3)-coupling, has been established as a convenient and general approach towards propargylamines. Furthermore, the A(3)-coupling has found a broad application as a key step in the construction of various nitrogen-containing heterocycles, biologically active compounds and natural products. Several interesting modifications of the A(3)-coupling as well as different tandem reactions involving A(3)-coupling have been developed. This tutorial review aims to highlight the current achievements in the field of A(3)-couplings and related transformations.     

Phase behaviors of nematic liquid crystal/linear polymer systems: Effect of specific interactions

A new model has been proposed that takes into account the specific interaction between nematic liquid crystal and polymer. A generalized lattice fluid model was employed to describe the specific interaction between liquid crystal and polymer. The proposed model postulates that a specific interaction between dissimilar components in a mixture has both an energetic and an entropic component. A degeneracy parameter and an interaction parameter are also discussed, followed by a comparison of the experimental data to the model. The results show that that a specific interaction plays an important role in the phase behaviors of the given systems. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 4128–4136, 2000     

RNA-mediated sequestration of the RNA helicase eIF4A by Pateamine A inhibits translation initiation

Eukaryotic initiation factor 4A (eIF4A) is a member of the DEAD-box family of putative RNA helicases whose members are involved in many aspects of RNA metabolism. eIF4A is thought to facilitate binding of 43S preinitiation complexes to mRNAs by unwinding secondary structures present in the 5' untranslated region. Pateamine A, a small-molecule inhibitor of translation initiation, acts in an unusual manner by stimulating eIF4A activity. Herein, we report the elucidation of pateamine's mode of action. We demonstrate that Pateamine A is a chemical inducer of dimerization that forces an engagement between eIF4A and RNA and prevents eIF4A from participating in the ribosome-recruitment step of translation initiation.     

A stereo-controlled access to functionalized macrolactams via an aza-Claisen rearrangement

A novel and stereo-controlled method for the preparation of functionalized macrolactams was developed. The process involves stereoselective enol ether formation, followed by an azacyclic ring expansion via an aza-Claisen rearrangement. Herewith, we describe a systematic investigation of an aza-Claisen rearrangement-induced ring expansion of azacycles prepared by appending E/Z-enol ethers to the medium-sized lactams as well as the stereochemical outcome. In addition, the strategy was successfully applied to the total synthesis of fluvirucinine A(1) and 3-epi-fluvirucinine A(1). This method offers an attractive alternative to the intramolecular amide-aldol reaction for the elaboration of β-alkoxy-α-substituted motifs.     

Interactions between dextran-modified poly(methyl methacrylate) latex particles and concanavalin A

The electrostatic and affinity interactions between concanavalin A (Con A) and dextran-modified latex particles were investigated. The ratio of the initial number of dextran active sites to that of Con A molecules plays an important role in determining the structure of flocs formed during adsorption and, thereby, has an influence on the amount of adsorbed Con A and the subsequent elution yield. NaCl and d-glucose, used successively in the two-step desorption of Con A, were employed to study the relative importance of electrostatic and affinity interactions involved in the Con A adsorption process. A significant fraction of adsorbed Con A is attributed to the electrostatic interaction mechanism. The feasibility of using the dextran-modified latex products to purify Con A from Jack bean meal was demonstrated. Received: 22 February 2000 Accepted: 19 September 2000     

Isolation and Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Perforanoid A

A novel limonoid, perforanoid A, was isolated, and an asymmetric total synthesis was achieved in 10 steps. The key steps are chiral tertiary aminonaphthol mediated enantioselective alkenylation of an aldehyde to an allylic alcohol, Pd‐catalyzed coupling of the allylic alcohol with vinyl ether to form the γ‐lactone ring, and cyclopentenone ring formation through a Rh‐catalyzed Pauson–Khand reaction. Preliminary studies show that perforanoid A is cytotoxic towards HEL, K562, and CB3 tumor cell lines.     

Hopeahainol A: an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor from Hopea hainanensis

A phytochemical study of Hopea hainanensis has led to the isolation of three new polyphenols and one known compound. The most important of these compounds are hopeahainols A (2) and B (3), which contain an unprecedented carbon skeleton. The structures were elucidated by analysis of the spectroscopic data including single-crystal X-ray spectroscopy and computational methods. Hopeahainol A was an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor with an IC50 value of 4.33 microM, which is comparable to that of huperzine A, a presently prescribed drug for the treatment of Alzheimer, while other similar structures were inactive. This observation was complemented by a 3D interaction model of the inhibitor with active sites.     

Total synthesis of garsubellin A

A concise approach to the laboratory synthesis of garsubellin A is described. Garsubellin A, an effective inducer of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), has been shown to have potential as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Starting from 3,5-dimethoxyphenol, the synthesis has provided garsubellin A in an 18-step sequence. Notable transformations include dearomative allylation, diastereoselective vinylogous lactonization, iodocarbocyclization, transannular Wurtz, and bridgehead functionalization reactions.     

Robustness of virus removal by protein A chromatography is independent of media lifetime

The robustness of virus clearance with respect to protein A media reuse was demonstrated using media with four matrix chemistries: Protein A immobilized ProSep A, Poros A50, Protein A ceramic Hyper DF and MabSelect SuRe, an alkali resistant protein A ligand. Endogenous retrovirus clearance, step yield, impurity clearance and other performance parameters were evaluated periodically in media cycled up to 300 times. Media lifetime was generally limited by either declining step yield or media fouling. However, clearance of endogenous retrovirus remained in an acceptable range, either increasing or remaining constant. Multiply cycled media were tested for clearance of three viruses (SV40, X-MuLV, and MMV); clearance was comparable to na?ve media. Overall, virus clearance by protein A chromatography appears to be extremely robust with respect to media age.     

A2-rhodopsin: a new fluorophore isolated from photoreceptor outer segments

A2E and iso-A2E are fluorescent amphiphilic pyridinium bisretinoids involved in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It is now shown that the presence of high exogenous concentrations of all-trans-retinal in photoreceptor outer segments leads to the formation of A2-rhodopsin (A2-Rh), an unprecedented fluorescent rhodopsin adduct which consists of bisretinoids (A2) linked to each of three lysine residues in rhodopsin (Rh) and which exhibits an emission spectrum similar to A2E. The fluorophore to protein ratio was determined by MALDI-TOF-MS and UV-VIS spectroscopy. Enzymatic degradation with thermolysin and cathepsin D showed that two of the A2 moieties were located in the region of the third cytoplasmic loop and 8th helix of Rh. Examination of A2-Rh and A2-PE (the precursor of A2E) fluorescence in relation to all-trans-retinal concentration indicated that whereas A2-PE formation is favored over that of A2-Rh, for a single rhodopsin molecule only one phosphatidylethanolamine molecule is available to react with all-trans-retinal; this phosphatidylethanolamine is probably tightly associated with the protein.     

Absolute measurement system for low electrolytic conductivity of aqueous solutions based on van der Pauw’s theory using a flow-through cell

A system was designed for measuring the low electrolytic conductivity of aqueous solutions based on an innovative application of van der Pauw’s theory. A four-electrode system with an axial–radial two-dimensional adjustment structure was used. A flow-through cell and a sealed system were built to avoid the CO₂ contamination at low-conductivity values. In this paper, the new cell and the measurement system with flowing solution are described. A series of experiments were conducted to determine the appropriate frequency and flow rate. Moreover, static and flowing cell systems were compared for their efficacy to measure an ultrapure water sample. The second cell in the system can also be used to calibrate other conductivity devices.     

A New Interpretation of Apparent Induction Period in Ring‐Opening Polymerization of Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane in Acid Emulsion

A following new interpretation of apparent induction period is proposed considering the experimental results obtained: octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) is activated by the reaction with acid to generate an activated derivative (A4). A4 reacts with D4 to generate A8, an active species containing eight dimethylsiloxane units. A8 backbites to generate mostly A4 and D4, which causes retardation in polymerization, but occasionally to form A3 and D5. A3 is highly reactive, and when the concentration of A3 exceeds a certain limit, much Ai where i is large enough is formed and promotes fast growth of chain at the interfacial area due to high concentration of D4. The interpretation assumes that A3 accelerates growth of chain faster than other species, and that A8 tends to backbite rather than grow. The interpretation is supported by the experimental results of polymerization conducted with D4 and D3, or D5 and D3 charged.     

An oligopeptide containing the C-terminal sequence of RNase a has a potent RNase a binding property

We demonstrate that an oligopeptide containing the C-terminal sequence of RNase A binds to RNase A in a stoichiometric and site-specific manner. Our observations are consistent with the interaction found in the major domain-swapped RNase A dimer, so that the peptide binding may be promoted through the swapping with the C-terminal beta-sheet of RNase A. Because the design of a protein-binding peptide is much simpler than other methods such as the combinatorial method, we propose that investigation using an oligopeptide may be of general application to domain swapping in proteins as well as for the development of an oligopeptide tool that specifically binds to a target protein.     

Synthesis of A-B-C-ring Tricyclic Core of iso-Merrilactone A

A desymmetrization approach for the synthesis of the A-B-C tricycle intermediate of iso-merrilactone A was described. The key steps of this synthesis to efficiently access the tetracyclic Illicium sesquiterpenes core included an intramolecular aldol cyclization and an oxidative lactonization reaction. A novel Au catalyzed hydrolytic cyclorearrangement cascade reaction was explored in the initial stage.     

Absolute characterization of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy detection systems

A quantitative comparison of the performance of four different laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy detection systems is presented. The systems studied are an intensified photodiode array coupled with a Czerny–Turner spectrometer, an intensified CCD coupled with a Czerny–Turner spectrometer, an intensified CCD coupled to an Echelle spectrometer, and a prototype multichannel compact CCD spectrometer system. A simple theory of LIBS detection systems is introduced, and used to define noise-equivalent spectral radiance and noise-equivalent integrated spectral radiance for spectral detectors. A detailed characterization of cathode noise sources in the intensified systems is presented.     

Chemical synthesis and immunological evaluation of entirely carbohydrate conjugate Globo H-PS A1

An anticancer, entirely carbohydrate conjugate, Globo H-polysaccharide A1 (Globo H-PS A1), was chemically prepared and immunologically evaluated in C57BL/6 mice. Tumor associated carbohydrate antigen Globo H hexasaccharide was synthesized in an overall 7.8% yield employing a convergent [3 + 3] strategy that revealed an anomeric aminooxy group used for conjugation to oxidized PS A1 via an oxime linkage. Globo H-PS A1, formulated with adjuvants monophosphoryl lipid A and TiterMax® Gold. After immunization an antigen specific immune response was observed in ELISA with anti-Globo H IgG/IgM antibodies. Specificity of the corresponding antibodies was determined by FACS showing cell surface binding to Globo H-positive cancer cell lines MCF-7 and OVCAR-5. The anti-Globo H antibodies also exhibited complement-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against MCF-7 and OVCAR-5 cells.

An anticancer, entirely carbohydrate conjugate, Globo H-polysaccharide A1 (Globo H-PS A1), was chemically prepared and immunologically evaluated in C57BL/6 mice.