Biological Activity of Amidino-Substituted Imidazo [4,5-b]pyridines

A series of cyano- and amidino-substituted imidazo[4,5-b]pyridines were synthesized using standard methods of organic synthesis, and their biological activity was evaluated. Biological evaluation included in vitro assessment of antiproliferative effects on a diverse selection of human cancer cell lines, antibacterial activity against chosen Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains, and antiviral activity on a broad panel of DNA and RNA viruses. The most pronounced antiproliferative activity was observed for compound 10, which contained an unsubstituted amidino group, and compound 14, which contained a 2-imidazolinyl amidino group; both displayed selective and strong activity in sub-micromolar inhibitory concentration range against colon carcinoma (IC₅₀ 0.4 and 0.7 μM, respectively). All tested compounds lacked antibacterial activity, with the exception of compound 14, which showed moderate activity against E. coli (MIC 32 μM). Bromo-substituted derivative 7, which contained an unsubstituted phenyl ring (EC₅₀ 21 μM), and para-cyano-substituted derivative 17 (EC₅₀ 58 μM) showed selective but moderate activity against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).     

Azapeptide activity-based probes for the SARS-CoV-2 main protease enable visualization of inhibition in infected cells

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the vulnerability of the modern, global society. With expected waves of future infections by SARS-CoV-2, treatment options for infected individuals will be crucial in order to decrease mortality and hospitalizations. The SARS-CoV-2 main protease is a validated drug target, for which the first inhibitor has been approved for use in patients. To facilitate future work on this drug target, we designed a solid-phase synthesis route towards azapeptide activity-based probes that are capped with a cysteine-reactive electrophile for covalent modification of the active site of M^pro. This design led to the most potent ABP for M^pro and one of the most potent inhibitors reported thus far. We demonstrate that this ABP can be used to visualize M^pro activity and target engagement by drugs in infected cells.

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the vulnerability of the modern, global society.     

Cellular Fucosylation Inhibitors Based on Fluorinated Fucose-1-phosphates**

Fucosylation of glycans impacts a myriad of physiological and pathological processes. Inhibition of fucose expression emerges as a potential therapeutic avenue for example in cancer, inflammation, and infection. In this study, we found that protected 2-fluorofucose 1-phosphate efficiently inhibits cellular fucosylation with a four to seven times higher potency than known inhibitor 2FF, independently of the anomeric stereochemistry. Nucleotide sugar analysis revealed that both the α- and β-GDP-2FF anomers are formed inside the cell. In conclusion, we developed A2FF1P and B2FF1P as potent new tools for studying the role of fucosylation in health and disease and they are potential therapeutic candidates.     

An Anthracene-Based Metal-Organic Framework for Selective Photo-Reduction of Carbon Dioxide to Formic Acid Coupled with Water Oxidation

A Zr-based metal-organic framework has been synthesized and employed as a catalyst for photochemical carbon dioxide reduction coupled with water oxidation. The catalyst shows significant carbon dioxide reduction property with concomitant water oxidation. The catalyst has broad visible light as well as UV light absorption property, which is further confirmed from electronic absorption spectroscopy. Formic acid was the only reduced product from carbon dioxide with a turn-over frequency (TOF) of 0.69 h⁻¹ in addition to oxygen, which was produced with a TOF of 0.54 h⁻¹. No external photosensitizer is used and the ligand itself acts as the light harvester. The efficient and selective photochemical carbon dioxide reduction to formic acid with concomitant water oxidation using Zr-based MOF as catalyst is thus demonstrated here.