A real-time,fluorescence-based assay for Rho-associated protein kinase activity

Inhibitors of Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) enzymatic activity have been shown to reduce the invasive phenotype observed in metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We describe the design, synthesis, and evaluation of a direct probe for ROCK activity utilizing a phosphorylation-sensitive sulfonamido-oxine fluorophore, termed Sox. The Sox fluorophore undergoes an increase in fluorescence upon phosphorylation of a proximal amino acid via chelation-enhanced fluorescence (CHEF, ex. = 360 nm and em. = 485 nm), allowing for the direct visualization of the rate of phosphate addition to a peptide substrate over time. Our optimal probe design, ROCK-S1, is capable of sensitively reporting ROCK activity with a limit of detection of 10 pM and a high degree of reproducibility (Z’-factor = 0.6 at 100 pM ROCK2). As a proof-of-principle for high-throughput screening (HTS) we demonstrate the ability to rapidly assess the efficacy of a 78 member, small molecule library against ROCK2 using a robotics platform. We identify two previously unreported ROCK2 inhibitor scaffolds, PHA665752 and IKK16, with IC₅₀ values of 3.6 μM and 247 nM respectively. Lastly, we define conditions for selectively monitoring ROCK activity in the presence of potential off-target enzymes (PKCα, PKA, and PAK) with similar substrate specificities.     

Conformational Dynamics Underlies Different Functions of Human KDM7 Histone Demethylases

The human KDM7 subfamily histone H3 Nϵ-methyl lysine demethylases PHF8 (KDM7B) and KIAA1718 (KDM7A) have different substrate selectivities and are linked to genetic diseases and cancer. We describe experimentally based computational studies revealing that flexibility of the region linking the PHD finger and JmjC domains in PHF8 and KIAA1718 regulates interdomain interactions, the nature of correlated motions, and ultimately H3 binding and demethylation site selectivity. F279S an X-linked mental retardation mutation in PHF8 is involved in correlated motions with the iron ligands and second sphere residues. The calculations reveal key roles of a flexible protein environment in productive formation of enzyme-substrate complexes and suggest targeting the flexible KDM7 linker region is of interest from a medicinal chemistry perspective.     

Rational Design of a Uranyl Metal–Organic Framework for the Capture and Colorimetric Detection of Organic Dyes

A new uranyl containing metal–organic framework, RPL-1 : [(UO₂)₂(C₂₈H₁₈O₈)] ^. H₂O (RPL for Radiochemical Processing Laboratory), was prepared, structurally characterized, and the solid-state photoluminescence properties explored. Single crystal X-ray diffraction data reveals the structure of RPL - 1 consists of two crystallographically unique three dimensional, interpenetrating nets with a 4,3-connected tbo topology. Each net contains large pores with an average width of 22.8 Å and is formed from monomeric, hexagonal bipyramidal uranyl nodes that are linked via 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene (TCPB) ligands. The thermal and photophysical properties of RPL-1 were investigated using thermogravimetric analysis and absorbance, fluorescence, and lifetime spectroscopies. The material displays excellent thermal stability and temperature dependent uranyl and TCPB luminescence. The framework is stable in aqueous media and due to the large void space (constituting 76 % of the unit cell by volume) can sequester organic dyes, the uptake of which induces a visible change to the color of the material.     

Trifluorosulfonylation Cascade in Allenols: Stereocontrolled Synthesis of Bis(triflyl)enones

Herein, we report investigations embodying the first example of reversal of the native regioselectivity in the reaction of allenols with electrophiles. The effortlessness of C−C bond formation, mild reaction conditions, neither catalysts nor light irradiation, and exquisite selectivity, both in terms of functional-group tolerance and chemo-, site-, and stereo-selectivity, converts this trifluorosulfonylation-rearrangement sequence into an appealing protocol for the preparation of novel functionalized enones. The synthetic utility of this method has been validated by the conversion of the initially prepared bis(triflyl)enones into a variety of bis(triflyl)-functionalized molecules such as 1,3-dienes, allylic alcohols, pyrroles, pyrazoles, and chromenes. Besides, DFT calculations have provided a reliable understanding of observed selectivity.     

Photoredox/Cobalt Dual-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Elimination of Carboxylic Acids: Development and Mechanistic Insight

Recently, dual-catalytic strategies towards the decarboxylative elimination of carboxylic acids have gained attention. Our lab previously reported a photoredox/cobaloxime dual catalytic method that allows the synthesis of enamides and enecarbamates directly from N-acyl amino acids and avoids the use of any stoichiometric reagents. Further development, detailed herein, has improved upon this transformation's utility and further experimentation has provided new insights into the reaction mechanism. These new developments and insights are anticipated to aid in the expansion of photoredox/cobalt dual-catalytic systems.     

Aryl vinyl cyclopropane Cope rearrangements

While the divinyl cyclopropane Cope rearrangement is well-known, and has been broadly applied in synthesis, examples of the aryl vinyl cyclopropane Cope rearrangement are less common and generally limited in scope or reaction yield. The aryl vinyl cyclopropane Cope rearrangement gives access to the benzocycloheptene scaffold, which is present in a variety of naturally occurring and medicinally relevant products. Herein we report a method to obtain either of two regioisomeric benzocycloheptene products via an aryl vinyl cyclopropane Cope rearrangement, featuring additive-controlled regioselectivity. Mechanistic studies indicate a dynamic equilibration of cyclopropane stereoisomers, followed by rearrangement of the cis diastereomer.     

Self-assembled free-floating nanomaterials from sequence-defined polymers

Sequence-defined polymers can be programmed to self-assemble into precise nanostructures for applications in biosensing, drug delivery, optics, and molecular computation. Inspired by the natural self-assembly processes present in biological protein and DNA systems, sets of molecular design rules have emerged across materials classes as instructions to build a variety of tunable structures. This review highlights recent advances in self-assembled sequence-defined and sequence-specific polymers across peptides, peptoids, DNA, and non-biological synthetic materials, with a focus on synthesis, assembly processes and overall structure. Specifically, these self-assembled structures are free-floating, as such constructs can potentially serve as a platform for the aforementioned applications. Emphasis is placed on the molecular design of polymers that self-assemble into zero-dimensional, one-dimensional, two-dimensional, or three-dimensional nanostructures. With the development of automated syntheses and increasing control over self-assembly, future work may focus on emerging classes of compatible hybrid materials with exciting directions toward new architectures and applications.     

Electrodeposition of nanostructured catalysts for electrochemical energy conversion: Current trends and innovative strategies

This review discusses the latest advances in electrodeposition of nanostructured catalysts for electrochemical energy conversion: fuel cells, water splitting, and carbon dioxide electroreduction. The method excels at preparing efficient and durable nanostructured materials, such as nanoparticles, single atom clusters, hierarchical bifunctional combinations of hydroxides, selenides, phosphides, and so on. Yet, in most cases, chemical composition cannot be decoupled from catalyst morphology. This compromises the rational design of electrodeposition procedures because performance indicators depend on both morphology and surface chemistry. We expect electrodeposition will keep unraveling its potential as the preferred method for electrocatalyst synthesis once a deeper understanding of the electrochemical growth process is combined with complex chemistries to have control of the morphology and the surface composition of complex (bifunctional) electrocatalysts.     

Aspartate‐Based CXCR4 Chemokine Receptor Binding of Cross‐Bridged Tetraazamacrocyclic Copper(II) and Zinc(II) Complexes

The CXCR4 chemokine receptor is implicated in a number of diseases including HIV infection and cancer development and metastasis. Previous studies have demonstrated that configurationally restricted bis‐tetraazamacrocyclic metal complexes are high‐affinity CXCR4 antagonists. Here, we present the synthesis of Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ acetate complexes of six cross‐bridged tetraazamacrocycles to mimic their coordination interaction with the aspartate side chains known to bind them to CXCR4. X‐ray crystal structures for three new Cu²⁺ acetate complexes and two new Zn²⁺ acetate complexes demonstrate metal‐ion‐dependent differences in the mode of binding the acetate ligand concomitantly with the requisite cis‐V‐configured cross‐bridged tetraazamacrocyle. Concurrent density functional theory molecular modelling studies produced an energetic rationale for the unexpected [Zn(OAc)(H₂O)]⁺ coordination motif present in all of the Zn²⁺ cross‐bridged tetraazamacrocycle crystal structures, which differs from the chelating acetate [Zn(OAc)]⁺ structures of known unbridged and side‐bridged tetraazamacrocyclic Zn²⁺‐containing CXCR4 antagonists.