Computational Studies of Au(I) and Au(III) Anticancer MetalLodrugs: A Survey

Owing to the growing hardware capabilities and the enhancing efficacy of computational methodologies, computational chemistry approaches have constantly become more important in the development of novel anticancer metallodrugs. Besides traditional Pt-based drugs, inorganic and organometallic complexes of other transition metals are showing increasing potential in the treatment of cancer. Among them, Au(I)- and Au(III)-based compounds are promising candidates due to the strong affinity of Au(I) cations to cysteine and selenocysteine side chains of the protein residues and to Au(III) complexes being more labile and prone to the reduction to either Au(I) or Au(0) in the physiological milieu. A correct prediction of metal complexes’ properties and of their bonding interactions with potential ligands requires QM computations, usually at the ab initio or DFT level. However, MM, MD, and docking approaches can also give useful information on their binding site on large biomolecular targets, such as proteins or DNA, provided a careful parametrization of the metal force field is employed. In this review, we provide an overview of the recent computational studies of Au(I) and Au(III) antitumor compounds and of their interactions with biomolecular targets, such as sulfur- and selenium-containing enzymes, like glutathione reductases, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, cysteine protease, thioredoxin reductase and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1.     

Rapid Formation of Non-canonical Phospholipid Membranes by Chemoselective Amide-Forming Ligations with Hydroxylamines**

There has been increasing interest in methods to generate synthetic lipid membranes as key constituents of artificial cells or to develop new tools for remodeling membranes in living cells. However, the biosynthesis of phospholipids involves elaborate enzymatic pathways that are challenging to reconstitute in vitro. An alternative approach is to use chemical reactions to non-enzymatically generate natural or non-canonical phospholipids de novo. Previous reports have shown that synthetic lipid membranes can be formed in situ using various ligation chemistries, but these methods lack biocompatibility and/or suffer from slow kinetics at physiological pH. Thus, it would be valuable to develop chemoselective strategies for synthesizing phospholipids from water-soluble precursors that are compatible with synthetic or living cells Here, we demonstrate that amide-forming ligations between lipid precursors bearing hydroxylamines and α-ketoacids (KAs) or potassium acyltrifluoroborates (KATs) can be used to prepare non-canonical phospholipids at physiological pH conditions. The generated amide-linked phospholipids spontaneously self-assemble into cell-like micron-sized vesicles similar to natural phospholipid membranes. We show that lipid synthesis using KAT ligation proceeds extremely rapidly, and the high selectivity and biocompatibility of the approach facilitates the in situ synthesis of phospholipids and associated membranes in living cells.     

Selenium: An Element of Life Essential for Thyroid Function

Selenium (Se), a microelement essential for life, is critical for homeostasis of several critical functions, such as those related to immune–endocrine function and signaling transduction pathways. In particular, Se is critical for the function of the thyroid, and it is particularly abundant in this gland. Unfortunately, Se deficiency is a very common condition worldwide. Supplementation is possible, but as Se has a narrow safety level, toxic levels are close to those normally required for a correct need. Thus, whether the obtaining of optimal selenium concentration is desirable, the risk of dangerous concentrations must be equally excluded. This review addressed the contribution by environment and food intake on Se circulating levels (e.g., geographical factors, such as soil concentration and climate, and different quantities in food, such as nuts, cereals, eggs, meat and fish) and effects related to its deficiency or excess, together with the role of selenium and selenoproteins in the thyroid pathophysiology (e.g., Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease).     

Synthesis of 1H-pyrazino[1,2-a]pyrido[2,3-e]pyrazine and 2H-Pyrano[2,3-b]pyrido[2,3-e]pyrazine Derivatives

With a continuing interest on heteropolycyclic structures which may show biological activities, we synthesized new tricyclic derivatives in which the pyridopyrazine skeleton is fused with pyrazine 7 and 8, B , n = 1. However, the initial design of obtaining also the cyclohomologous structure B (n = 2) produced instead a pyranopyridopyrazine derivative 11 . Thus during the attempt to prepare a pyridodiazepine intermediate, beside a very small amount of the desired product 10 , the pyridopyrazine 9 was obtained. The latter compound reacted with chloroacetyl chloride/chloroketene to give 4-carbethoxy-10-(chloroacetyl)-5,10-dihydro-5-methyl-2H-pyrano[2,3-b]pyrido[2,3-e]pyrazin-2-one ( 11 ). In studying the behavior of this derivative, compounds 12–14 were obtained. Compounds 4b,c, 5a,b, 7, 8, 9 and 14 have been submitted to preliminary pharmacological screening as CNS depressant agents.     

Gas chromatographic determination of some glycol ethers and glycol ether acetates by FID,O-FID,and MS detection. Preliminary applications in simultaneous monitoring of these chemicals in biological matrices

Twelve compounds, commonly used as industrial solvents and belonging to the chemical class of glycol ethers and glycol ether acetates, were investigated. Several analytical conditions, applied to single or connected capillary columns of different length and polarity coating and connected to FID, O-FID and MS detection systems, were assayed. Tests on heptafluorobutyryl derivatives were also attempted to improve the analytical sensitivity. The aims were to establish gas chromatographic methods suitable for analysis of reference standard compounds and to verify their applicability to biological matrix analysis for pharmacokinetic and toxicological studies, since these chemicals have been shown to be hazardous in laboratory animals and are presumed to be dangerous in man.     

Kinetics of long-chain branching in emulsion polymerization

A kinetic model suitable to deal with the case of branched polymers produced in emulsion both in the case of chain transfer to polymer and propagation to terminal double bond is briefly presented and numerically solved through the method of the moments. Thanks to the “numerical fractionation” approach, the whole molecular weight distribution of the polymer is evaluated while accounting for the compartmentalized nature of the system. The results of some illustrative calculations concerning the effects upon the molecular properties of the final polymer of starved semibatch monomer feed policies, addition of a chain transfer agent and propagation to terminal double bond are discussed.     

New entry to pyrrolidine homoazasugars: conversion of d-arabinose into 2,5-anhydro-2,5-imino-d-glucitol via aminohomologation

The title homoazasugar, also referred as (2R,5S)-bis(hydroxymethyl)-(3R,4R)-dihydroxypyrrolidine, has been synthesized by addition of 2-lithiothiazole to the 2,3,5-tri-O-benzyl-d-arabinofuranose-derived nitrone---hydroxylamine mixture followed by reductive N-dehydroxylation and conversion of the thiazole ring into the hydroxymethyl group.