Efficient Innate Immune Killing of Cancer Cells Triggered by Cell‐Surface Anchoring of Multivalent Antibody‐Recruiting Polymers

Binding of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) onto a cell surface triggers antibody‐mediated effector killing by innate immune cells through complement activation. As an alternative to mAbs, synthetic systems that can recruit endogenous antibodies from the blood stream to a cancer cell surface could be of great relevance. Herein, we explore antibody‐recruiting polymers (ARPs) as a novel class of immunotherapy. ARPs consist of a cell‐binding motif linked to a polymer that contains multiple small molecule antibody‐binding motifs along its backbone. As a proof of concept, we employ a lipid anchor that inserts into the phospholipid cell membrane and make use of a polymeric activated ester scaffold onto which we substitute dinitrophenol as an antibody‐binding motif. We demonstrate that ARPs allow for high avidity antibody binding and drive antibody recruitment to treated cells for several days. Furthermore, we show that ARP‐treated cancer cells are prone to antibody‐mediated killing through phagocytosis by macrophages.     

Neutralization of Pathogenic Fungi with Small‐Molecule Immunotherapeutics

Systemic fungal infections represent an important public health concern, and new antifungal agents are highly desirable. Herein, we describe the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a novel class of antifungal compounds called antibody‐recruiting molecules targeting fungi (ARM‐Fs). Our approach relies on the use of non‐peptidic small molecules, which selectively bind fungal cells and recruit endogenous antibodies to their surfaces, resulting in immune‐mediated clearance. Using the opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans as a model, we identified a highly specific bifunctional molecule able to mediate the engulfment and phagocytosis of C. albicans cells by human immune cells in biologically relevant functional assays. This work represents a novel therapeutic approach to treating fungal illness with significant potential to complement and/or combine with existing treatment strategies.     

Synthesis,characterization and anticancer activity of new palladacycles derived from chiral α‐diimines

Optically pure α‐diimines quantitatively obtained in solvent‐free conditions starting from 2,3‐butanedione and (S)‐(?)‐1‐phenylethylamine and (S)‐(?)‐1‐(4‐methylphenyl)ethylamine, respectively, yielded the new chiral mono‐Pd complexes 2a–b, which have been partly characterized by IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopies along with MS‐FAB⁺ spectrometry. The crystal and molecular structure for palladacycle 2a has been fully confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray studies. Studies in vitro of 2a–b have displayed growth inhibition against different classes of cancer: leukemia (K‐562 CML), colon cancer (HCT‐15), breast cancer (MCF‐7), central nervous system (U‐251 Glio) and prostate cancer (PC‐3) cell lines. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An Antibody with a Variable‐Region Coiled‐Coil “Knob” Domain

The X‐ray crystal structure of a bovine antibody (BLV1H12) revealed a unique structure in its ultralong heavy chain complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3H) that folds into a solvent‐exposed β‐strand “stalk” fused to a disulfide crosslinked “knob” domain. We have substituted an antiparallel heterodimeric coiled‐coil motif for the β‐strand stalk in this antibody. The resulting antibody (Ab‐coil) expresses in mammalian cells and has a stability similar to that of the parent bovine antibody. MS analysis of H–D exchange supports the coiled‐coil structure of the substituted peptides. Substitution of the knob‐domain of Ab‐coil with bovine granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (bGCSF) results in a stably expressed chimeric antibody, which proliferates mouse NFS‐60 cells with a potency comparable to that of bGCSF. This work demonstrates the utility of this novel coiled‐coil CDR3 motif as a means for generating stable, potent antibody fusion proteins with useful pharmacological properties.     

具有U构型的二{1-甲硫基-1-[1-苯基-1-(1-苯基-3-甲基-5-氧代-4,5二氢吡唑-4-烯)-甲氨基]亚氨甲基}二硫醚的晶体结构

The reaction of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoyl-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-5-one (PMBP) and methyldithiocarbazate (mdtc) in methanol results in formation of a yellow crystalline solid, adduct of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4benzoyl-2,5-dihydro-lH-pyrazol-5-one and methyldithiocarbazate. When the yellow solids were dissolved in a mixture of methanol and ether (1:4), a red crystal, which is an oxidation product of the former, was obtained by allowing solvent to evaporate for a few days at room temperature. The X-ray analysis of the red crystal indicates that it is a novel disulfide with a special structure like a “U” conformation in the solid state.     

Gadolinium (III) 2‐Benzoyl‐1,1,3,3‐tetracyanopropenide Diacetate: Synthesis and Crystal Structure

2‐Acyl‐1,1,3,3‐tetracyanopropenides (ATCN) is a stable organic salts, containing the carbonyl group in addition to the tetracyanoallyl (TCA) fragment in the anion. TCA anions are known as bridging ligands with variable denticity with potential application in organic electronics and as a ionic liquids components. In this communication we reporting the synthesis and crystal structure of gadolinium(III) 2‐benzoyl‐1,1,3,3‐tetracyanopropenide diacetate – the first lantanide ATCN.     

Structure‐Based Development of an Affinity Probe for Sirtuin 2

Sirtuins are NAD⁺‐dependent protein deacylases that cleave off acetyl groups, as well as other acyl groups, from the ?‐amino group of lysines in histones and other substrate proteins. Dysregulation of human Sirt2 activity has been associated with the pathogenesis of cancer, inflammation, and neurodegeneration, thus making Sirt2 a promising target for pharmaceutical intervention. Here, based on a crystal structure of Sirt2 in complex with an optimized sirtuin rearranging ligand (SirReal) that shows improved potency, water solubility, and cellular efficacy, we present the development of the first Sirt2‐selective affinity probe. A slow dissociation of the probe/enzyme complex offers new applications for SirReals, such as biophysical characterization, fragment‐based screening, and affinity pull‐down assays. This possibility makes the SirReal probe an important tool for studying sirtuin biology.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structures and Anticancer Activity of the New Chiral Mono‐ and Dinuclear Palladium(II) Complexes derived from (S)‐(‐)‐(1‐phenylethylimino)benzylphenylketone

The enantiopure ketoimine of benzil – the ( S )‐(‐)‐(1‐phenylethylimino)benzyl phenyl ketone ( 1 ) obtained under microwave irradiation in solvent‐free conditions – reacts with Na₂[PdCl₄] to give the new chiral mono‐ and dinuclear Pd‐complexes 2 and 3 , which have been partly characterized by IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies along with MS‐FAB⁺ spectrometry. The crystal and molecular structures of both complexes has been fully confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray studies. On the other hand, investigations in vitro of 2 and 3 have displayed growth inhibition against different classes of cancer: leukemia (K‐562 CML), colon cancer (HCT‐15), cancer breast (MCF‐7), central nervous system (U‐251 Glio) and prostate cancer (PC‐3) cell lines.     

Chemoselective and Site‐Selective Lysine‐Directed Lysine Modification Enables Single‐Site Labeling of Native Proteins

The necessity for precision labeling of proteins emerged during the efforts to understand and regulate their structure and function. It demands selective attachment of tags such as affinity probes, fluorophores, and potent cytotoxins. Here, we report a method that enables single‐site labeling of a high‐frequency Lys residue in the native proteins. At first, the enabling reagent forms stabilized imines with multiple solvent‐accessible Lys residues chemoselectively. These linchpins create the opportunity to regulate the position of a second Lys‐selective electrophile connected by a spacer. Consequently, it enables the irreversible single‐site labeling of a Lys residue independent of its place in the reactivity order. The user‐friendly protocol involves a series of steps to deconvolute and address chemoselectivity, site‐selectivity, and modularity. Also, it delivers ordered immobilization and analytically pure probe‐tagged proteins. Besides, the methodology provides access to antibody‐drug conjugate (ADC), which exhibits highly selective anti‐proliferative activity towards HER‐2 expressing SKBR‐3 breast cancer cells.     

Non‐Interpenetrated Single‐Crystal Covalent Organic Frameworks

Growth of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) as single crystals is extremely challenging. Inaccessibility of open‐structured single‐crystal COFs prevents the exploration of structure‐oriented applications. Herein we report for the first time a non‐interpenetrated single‐crystal COF, LZU‐306, which possesses the open structure constructed exclusively via covalent assembly. With a high void volume of 80 %, LZU‐306 was applied to investigate the intrinsic dynamics of reticulated tetraphenylethylene (TPE) as the individual aggregation‐induced‐emission moiety. Solid‐state ²H NMR investigation has determined that the rotation of benzene rings in TPE, being the freest among the reported cases, is as fast as 1.0×10⁴ Hz at 203 K to 1.5×10⁷ Hz at 293 K. This research not only explores a new paradigm for single‐crystal growth of open frameworks, but also provides a unique matrix‐isolation platform to reticulate functional moieties into a well‐defined and isolated state.     

An Optimised Small‐Molecule Stabiliser of the 14‐3‐3–PMA2 Protein–Protein Interaction

Modulation of protein–protein interactions (PPIs) is a highly demanding, but also a very promising approach in chemical biology and targeted drug discovery. In contrast to inhibiting PPIs with small, chemically tractable molecules, stabilisation of these interactions can only be achieved with complex natural products, like rapamycin, FK506, taxol, forskolin, brefeldin and fusicoccin. Fusicoccin stabilises the activatory complex of the plant H⁺‐ATPase PMA2 and 14‐3‐3 proteins. Recently, we have shown that the stabilising effect of fusicoccin could be mimicked by a trisubstituted pyrrolinone (pyrrolidone1, 1 ). Here, we report the synthesis, functional activity and crystal structure of derivatives of 1 that stabilise the 14‐3‐3–PMA2 complex. With a limited compound collection three modifications that are important for activity enhancement could be determined: 1) conversion of the pyrrolinone scaffold into a pyrazole, 2) introduction of a tetrazole moiety to the phenyl ring that contacts PMA2, and 3) addition of a bromine to the phenyl ring that exclusively contacts the 14‐3‐3 protein. The crystal structure of a pyrazole derivative of 1 in complex with 14‐3‐3 and PMA2 revealed that the more rigid core of this molecule positions the stabiliser deeper into the rim of the interface, enlarging especially the contact surface to PMA2. Combination of the aforementioned features gave rise to a molecule ( 37 ) that displays a threefold increase in stabilising the 14‐3‐3–PMA2 complex over 1 . Compound 37 and the other active derivatives show no effect on two other important 14‐3‐3 protein–protein interactions, that is, with CRaf and p53. This is the first study that describes the successful optimisation of a PPI stabiliser identified by screening.     

Crystal‐Field and Covalency Effects in Uranates: An X‐ray Spectroscopic Study

The electronic structure of U^V‐ and U^VI‐containing uranates NaUO₃ and Pb₃UO₆ was studied by using an advanced technique, namely X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) in high‐energy‐resolution fluorescence‐detection (HERFD) mode. Due to a significant reduction in core–hole lifetime broadening, the crystal‐field splittings of the 5f shell were probed directly in HERFD‐XAS spectra collected at the U 3d edge, which is not possible by using conventional XAS. In addition, the charge‐transfer satellites that result from U 5f–O 2p hybridization were clearly resolved. The crystal‐field parameters, 5f occupancy, and degree of covalency of the chemical bonding in these uranates were estimated by using the Anderson impurity model by calculating the U 3d HERFD‐XAS, conventional XAS, core‐to‐core (U 4f–3d transitions) resonant inelastic X‐ray scattering (RIXS), and U 4f X‐ray photoelectron spectra. The crystal field was found to be strong in these systems and the 5f occupancy was determined to be 1.32 and 0.84 electrons in the ground state for NaUO₃ and Pb₃UO₆, respectively, which indicates a significant covalent character for these compounds.     

Bis(methanol‐κO)dioxido[3,3′‐(1H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3,5‐diyl)diphenolato‐κ3O,N4,O′]uranium(VI) methanol monosolvate

The structure of the title compound, [U(C₁₄H₉N₃O₂)O₂(CH₃OH)₂]·CH₃OH, is the first to be reported for an actinide complex including triazole ligands. The U^VI atom exhibits a pentagonal–bipyramidal NO₆ coordination environment, involving two axial oxide ligands [U=O = 1.766 (3) and 1.789 (3) Å], four equatorial O atoms [U—O = 2.269 (3)–2.448 (3) Å] from the ligand and the two coordinated methanol molecules, and one equatorial N atom [U—N = 2.513 (4) Å] from the ligand. In the crystal structure, the complex molecules are linked via intermolecular N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds to form a two‐dimensional structure.     

(S,S)‐4′′‐Cyano‐7,7′′‐dimethoxy‐3′,6′‐dioxodispiro[indane‐2,2′‐piperazine‐5′,2′′‐indane]‐4‐carboxamide methanol solvate: interrupting the amide‐to‐amide hydrogen‐bonded tape

The title methanol solvate, C₂₄H₂₂N₄O₅·CH₃OH, forms an extended three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded structure, assisted by the presence of several good donor and acceptor sites. It shows none of the crystal packing features typically expected of piperazinediones, such as amide‐to‐amide R₂²(8) hydrogen bonding. In this structure the methanol solvent appears to play only a space‐filling role; it is not involved in any hydrogen bonding and instead is disordered over several sites. This study reports, to the best of our knowledge, the first crystal structure of an indane‐containing piperazinedione compound which exhibits a three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded structure formed by classical (N—H...O and N—H...N) hydrogen‐bonding interactions.     

The Rearrangement of 2,2‐Diphenyl‐1‐[(E)‐2‐phenylethenyl]cyclopropane to 3,4,4‐Triphenylcyclopent‐1‐ene: a DFT Analysis

A computational study on the rearrangement of 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐[(E)‐2‐phenylethenyl]cyclopropane ( 1 ) is presented, using density functional theory (DFT), (U)B3LYP with the 6‐31G* basis set (DFT1) and (U)M05‐2X with the 6‐311+G** basis set (DFT2). In agreement with a biradical character of the transition structure (TS) or intermediate, the potential‐energy hypersurface is lowered by the influence of three conjugated Ph groups. Surprisingly, two conformations of the geminal diphenyl group (different twist angles) induce two different minimum‐energy pathways for the rearrangement. Independent of the functional used, the first hypersurface harbors true biradical intermediates, whereas the second energy surface is a flat, slightly ascending slope from the starting material to the TS. The functional (U)M05‐2X with the basis set 6‐311+G** provides realistic energies which seem to be close to experiment. The activation energy for racemization of enantiomers of 1 is lower than that of rearrangement by 2.5 kcal mol^?1, in agreement with experiment.     

1‐Hydroxy‐1H‐benzo[d][1,2,6]oxazaborinin‐4(3H)‐one

The structure of the title compound, C₇H₆BNO₃, a new boron heterocycle, prepared by the condensation of (2‐ethoxycarbonylphenyl)boronic acid and hydroxylamine, reveals the specific mode of intramolecular condensation between a phenylboronic acid and an ortho hydroxamic acid substituent. The crystal structure shows that dehydration occurs to form a planar oxazaborinine ring possessing both phenol‐like B—O—H and lactam functional groups. In the extended structure, intermolecular hydrogen bonding generates a 14‐membered ring. To our knowledge, this is the first crystal structure determination involving a six‐membered ring that exhibits consecutive B—OH, O, NH, and C=O functional groups.     

X‐Ray Crystal Structure of a Second‐Generation Peptide Dendrimer in Complex with Pseudomonas aeruginosa Lectin LecB

Dendrimers are regularly branched molecular trees which are notoriously difficult to crystallize. Herein we report the crystal structure of a C‐fucosylated second generation peptide dendrimer as complex with lectin LecB in which the only dendrimer‐lectin contact is the LecB bound glycoside (PDB 6S5S). In contrast to a previously reported crystal structure of a first‐generation peptide dendrimer as LecB complex in which the dendrimer formed trimers connected by intermolecular β‐sheets (PDB 5D2A), the present structure features a globular monomeric state held together by intramolecular backbone hydrogen bonds and assembled into a non‐covalent dimer stabilized by hydrophobic contacts between leucine side‐chains and proline‐phenylalanine CH‐π stacking interactions. Molecular dynamics and circular dichroism studies suggest that this crystal structure resembles the structure of the peptide dendrimer in solution. Structures of a partially resolved dendrimer (PDB 6S5R) and of C‐fucosylated disulfide bridged peptide dimers connecting different LecB tetramers are also reported (PDB 6S7G, PDB 6S5P).     

Solution NMR Structure of a Ligand/Hybrid‐2‐G‐Quadruplex Complex Reveals Rearrangements that Affect Ligand Binding

Telomeric G‐quadruplexes have recently emerged as drug targets in cancer research. Herein, we present the first NMR structure of a telomeric DNA G‐quadruplex that adopts the biologically relevant hybrid‐2 conformation in a ligand‐bound state. We solved the complex with a metalorganic gold(III) ligand that stabilizes G‐quadruplexes. Analysis of the free and bound structures reveals structural changes in the capping region of the G‐quadruplex. The ligand is sandwiched between one terminal G‐tetrad and a flanking nucleotide. This complex structure involves a major structural rearrangement compared to the free G‐quadruplex structure as observed for other G‐quadruplexes in different conformations, invalidating simple docking approaches to ligand–G‐quadruplex structure determination.     

Synthese und Kristallstruktur von 2‐Azido‐4,6‐dichloro‐s‐triazin

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of 2‐Azido‐4,6‐dichloro‐s‐triazine Single crystals of 2‐azido‐4,6‐dichloro‐s‐triazine were obtained from a reaction between cyanuric chloride and sodium azide. The structure of this compound was determined by single crystal X‐ray diffraction. 2‐Azido‐4,6‐dichloro‐s‐triazine crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbca (no. 61), Z = 8, a = 746.48(8) pm, b = 952.6(1) pm, c = 2001.6(2) pm. The crystal structure contains (C₃N₃)(N₃)Cl₂ molecules being arranged in a tape‐like fashion, with tapes running along a‐axis direction. The tapes are combined with each other by interlocking azide‐ligands including an angle of approximately 90°. This arrangement leads to the formation of corrugated layers in the crystal structure.     

α‐Aminoxy Oligopeptides: Synthesis,Secondary Structure,and Cytotoxicity of a New Class of Anticancer Foldamers

α‐Aminoxy peptides are peptidomimetic foldamers with high proteolytic and conformational stability. To gain an improved synthetic access to α‐aminoxy oligopeptides we used a straightforward combination of solution‐ and solid‐phase‐supported methods and obtained oligomers that showed a remarkable anticancer activity against a panel of cancer cell lines. We solved the first X‐ray crystal structure of an α‐aminoxy peptide with multiple turns around the helical axis. The crystal structure revealed a right‐handed 2₈‐helical conformation with precisely two residues per turn and a helical pitch of 5.8 Å. By 2D ROESY experiments, molecular dynamics simulations, and CD spectroscopy we were able to identify the 2₈‐helix as the predominant conformation in organic solvents. In aqueous solution, the α‐aminoxy peptides exist in the 2₈‐helical conformation at acidic pH, but exhibit remarkable changes in the secondary structure with increasing pH. The most cytotoxic α‐aminoxy peptides have an increased propensity to take up a 2₈‐helical conformation in the presence of a model membrane. This indicates a correlation between the 2₈‐helical conformation and the membranolytic activity observed in mode of action studies, thereby providing novel insights in the folding properties and the biological activity of α‐aminoxy peptides.