Theoretical and experimental studies of vibrational spectra and thermodynamical analysis of 3�?bromopropiophenone and 4�?bromo-3-chloropropiophenone

Quantum chemical calculations of molecular geometries, vibrational wavenumbers and thermodynamical properties of 3'-bromopropiophenone and 4'-bromo-3-chloropropiophenone were carried out using Hartree-Fock (HF) and density functional theory (DFT) using hybrid functional B3LYP with 6-31?G (d,p) as basis set. The optimized geometrical parameters obtained by HF and DFT calculations are in good agreement with the experimental FTIR and FT Raman spectral datas. The observed and the calculated frequencies are found to be in good agreement. The experimental spectra also coincide satisfactorily with those of theoretically constructed simulated spectrograms.     

Synthesis and Evaluation of Antiviral Activity of 3′-C-Cyano-3′-Deoxynucleosides

Abstract

A series of 3′-C-cyano-3′-deoxy and 3′-C-cyano-2′,3′-dideoxy-nucleoside analogues of thymidine, uridine, cytidine and adenosine have been prepared. Their antiviral activity was assessed in various assay systems and while none of the compounas proved specifically active against human immunodeficiency virus, some compounds had marked activity against other viruses.     

Enzymatic synthesis and antitumor evaluation of mono- and diesters of 3-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-sn-glycerol

Lipase-catalyzed synthesis of mono- and diesters of 3-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-sn- glycerol (β-GG) with caproic acid was performed in acetone. The simultaneous production of 1(6’)-monoesters and 1,6’-diesters of β-GG was achieved in this reaction. In order to improve the yield of β-GG esters, four process parameters, enzyme concentration (15?～?25?mg/mL), and substrate molar ratio (caproic acid: β-GG=?1.60?～?2.00?mmol: 0.10?mmol), reaction temperature (40?～?60?°C), and reaction time (8?～?12?h), were optimized via response surface methodology (RSM) employing a three-level-four-variable central composite design. Results showed that enzyme concentration had the most significant (p?β-GG esters. The optimal reaction conditions in acetone were given as follows: Novozyme435 concentration 18.65?mg/mL, molar rate of caproic acid to β-GG 19.46:1, reaction temperature 48?°C, and reaction time 9.83?h. The yield of β-GG esters reached 88.08% under above optimized conditions, which was very close to the predicted value 87.95%. The molar ratio of monoester to diesters was 0.39:0.61. β-GG esters with other fatty acyl chains were synthesized based on the optimized conditions. In vitro antitumor activity indicated that the antitumor activity of β-GG esters was dependent on the nature of fatty acids, such as the length of acyl chain, the degree of saturation, as well as the number of acyl chain.     

Function and structure of microvirid phage α3 genome: II. Isolation and properties of various mutants of α3

Various mutants were isolated from a microvirid (isometric single-stranded DNA) phage α3, by mutagenesis with hydroxylamine or nitrous acid. They were divided into eight complementation groups, and mainly by genetic crosses the gene alignment was determined as -A-B-C′-D-J′-F-G-H-. Except for groups C′ and J′, each defective gene product was clearly discerned in electropherograms of proteins extracted from the phage-infected suppressor-negative (Su^?) Escherichia coli. Only gene A mutants abolished synthesis of the progeny replicative-form DNA (RF), whereas mutants belonging to groups B, C′, D, E, F and J′ affected RF replication at late stage, as well as synthesis of the single-stranded DNA (SS). Additional properties of several mutants are also discussed.     

Synthesis and antiviral activities of 3-deaza-3-fluoroaristeromycin and its 5′ analogues

The naturally occurring adenine based carbocyclic nucleosides aristeromycin and neplanocin A and their 3-deaza analogues have found a prominent place in the search for diverse antiviral activity agent scaffolds because of their ability to inhibit S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy) hydrolase. Following the lead of these compounds, their 3-deaza-3-fluoroaristeromycin analogues have been synthesized and their effect on S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase and RNA and DNA viruses determined.     

Novel Reporter Alleles of GSK-3α and GSK-3β

Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 (GSK-3) is a key player in development, physiology and disease. Because of this, GSK-3 inhibitors are increasingly being explored for a variety of applications. In addition most analyses focus on GSK-3β and overlook the closely related protein GSK-3α. Here, we describe novel GSK-3α and GSK-3β mouse alleles that allow us to visualise expression of their respective mRNAs by tracking β-galactosidase activity. We used these new lacZ alleles to compare expression in the palate and cranial sutures and found that there was indeed differential expression. Furthermore, both are loss of function alleles and can be used to generate homozygous mutant mice; in addition, excision of the lacZ cassette from GSK-3α creates a Cre-dependent tissue-specific knockout. As expected, GSK3α mutants were viable, while GSK3β mutants died after birth with a complete cleft palate. We also assessed the GSK-3α mutants for cranial and sternal phenotypes and found that they were essentially normal. Finally, we observed gestational lethality in compound GSK-3β^−/−; GSK3α^+/− mutants, suggesting that GSK-3 dosage is critical during embryonic development.     

Semisynthesis and antiproliferative evaluation of a series of 3′-aminoflavones

A series of 3′-aminoflavones 5,6,7,8-tetra- or 5,7-dioxygenated on the A-ring was synthesized from tangeretin or naringin, two natural Citrus flavonoids. These flavones were evaluated for antiproliferative activity, activation of apoptosis, and inhibition of tubulin assembly. The most antiproliferative flavones exhibit a common 5-hydroxy-6,7,8-trimethoxy substitution pattern on the A-ring.     

Mechanism of pH-independent Cleavage and Isomerization of 3′-Ribonucleotide Phosphodiesters

Abstract

The detailed mechanisms of pH-independent cleavage and isomerization reactions of the phosphodiester bond are evaluated by examining kinetics of hydrolytic reactions of selected mono- and dialkyl esters of 3′-uridylic acid. The mechanistic choices are made by comparing LFER's between reaction rates and acidity of the alkyl group of phosphodi- and triesters.     

Synthesis of Derivatives of 3-Methylxantheve and 1-Methyl-3-Isobutylxanthine 7-β-D-Ribofuranosides

Abstract

Methods of synthesis of 7–(2′,3′,5′-tri-O-acetyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-8-chloro-3-methylxanthine (5a) and l-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine (5b) were reported. Further nucleophilic displacement of chlorine has provided the corresponding 8-alkylamino and 8-benzylamino derivatives (6a,b-9a,b). Several 5′-acyl analogues of 3-methylxanthine-7–β-D-ribofuranoside (15–18) were synthesized using 7–(2′,3′-di-O-isopropylidene-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-3-methylxanthine (10) as intermediate.     

Concise and Efficient Synthesis of 3′-O-Tetraphosphates of 2′-Deoxyadenosine and 2′-Deoxycytidine

We describe concise and efficient synthesis of biologically very important 3′-O-tetraphosphates namely 2′-deoxyadenosine-3′-O-tetraphosphate (2′-d-3′-A4P) and 2′-deoxycytidine-3′-O-tetra-phosphate (2′-d-3′-C4P). N⁶-benzoyl-5′-O-levulinoyl-2′-deoxyadenosine was converted into N⁶-benzoyl-5′-O-levulinoyl-2′-deoxyadenosine-3′-O-tetraphosphate in 87% yield using a one-pot synthetic methodology. One-step concurrent deprotection of N⁶-benzoyl and 5′-O-levulinoyl groups using concentrated aqueous ammonia resulted 2′-d-3′-A4P in 74% yield. The same synthetic strategy was successfully employed to convert N⁴-benzoyl-5′-O-levulinoyl-2′-deoxycytidine into 2′-d-3′-C4P in 68% yield.     

Synthesis and monoamine transporter affinity of 3α-arylmethoxy-3β-arylnortropanes

A series of 3-arylnortrop-2-enes and 3α-arylmethoxy-3β-arylnortropanes were synthesized and evaluated for binding affinity at monoamine transporters. The 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)nortrop-2-ene (6e) exhibited high affinity for the SERT (K_i = 0.3 nM). The 3α-arylmethoxy-3β-arylnortropanes were generally SERT selective with the 3α-(3.4-dichlorophenylmethoxy)-3βphenylnortrop-2-ene (7c) possessing subnanomolar potency (K_i = 0.061 nM). However, 3α-(3,4-dichlorophenylmethoxy)-3β-phenylnortrop-2-ene (7b) exhibited high affinity at all three transporters [(DAT K_i = 22 nM), (SERT K_i = 6 nM) and (NET K_i = 101 nM)].     

Inhibitors of Adenosine Deaminase: Synthesis of Coformycin and 3′-Deoxycoformycin

Abstract

Glycosylation of the heterocycle, 6,7-dihydro-imidazo [4,5-d] [1,3] diazepin-8(3H)-one, with suitably protected sugars under the influence of Lewis acid catalysts gave the β-D-ribo- and 3′-deoxy-β-D-erythropento-furanosyl nucleosides. Deprotection and reduction of the keto nucleosides with sodium borohydride gave the (8R)- and (8S)-3-β-D-glycofuranosyl-3,6,7,8-tetrahydroimidazo [4,5-d]-[1,3] diazepin-8-ols, the (8R)-isomers of which are potent inhibitors of adenosine deaminase.     

Absence of MyD88 results in enhanced TLR3-dependent phosphorylation of IRF3 and increased IFN-β and RANTES production

Toll-like receptors are a group of pattern-recognition receptors that play a crucial role in "danger" recognition and induction of the innate immune response against bacterial and viral infections. TLR3 has emerged as a key sensor of viral dsRNA, resulting in the induction of the anti-viral molecule, IFN-β. Thus, a clearer understanding of the biological processes that modulate TLR3 signaling is essential. Previous studies have shown that the TLR adaptor, Mal/TIRAP, an activator of TLR4, inhibits TLR3-mediated IFN-β induction through a mechanism involving IRF7. In this study, we sought to investigate whether the TLR adaptor, MyD88, an activator of all TLRs except TLR3, has the ability to modulate TLR3 signaling. Although MyD88 does not significantly affect TLR3 ligand-induced TNF-α induction, MyD88 negatively regulates TLR3-, but not TLR4-, mediated IFN-β and RANTES production; this process is mechanistically distinct from that employed by Mal/TIRAP. We show that MyD88 inhibits IKKε-, but not TBK1-, induced activation of IRF3. In doing so, MyD88 curtails TLR3 ligand-induced IFN-β induction. The present study shows that while MyD88 activates all TLRs except TLR3, MyD88 also functions as a negative regulator of TLR3. Thus, MyD88 is essential in restricting TLR3 signaling, thereby protecting the host from unwanted immunopathologies associated with the excessive production of IFN-β. Our study offers a new role for MyD88 in restricting TLR3 signaling through a hitherto unknown mechanism whereby MyD88 specifically impairs IKKε-mediated induction of IRF3 and concomitant IFN-β and RANTES production.     

Synthesis and evaluation of sulfonylethyl-containing phosphotriesters of 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine as anticancer prodrugs

A series of bis(sulfonylethyl) and mono(sulfonylethyl) phenyl phosphotriesters of zidovudine (3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine, AZT) were synthesized as potential anticancer prodrugs that liberate AZT monophosphate via nonenzymatic β-elimination mechanism. Stability studies demonstrated that all the synthesized prodrugs spontaneously liberate AZT monophosphate with half-lives in the range of 0.07–278.8 h under model physiological conditions in 0.1 M phosphate buffer at pH 7.4 and 37 °C. Analogous to aldophosphamide, the elimination rates were accelerated in the presence of reconstituted human plasma under the same conditions. Among the compounds, 3, 4, 8, and 10 were comparable or superior to AZT against five established human cancerous cell lines in vitro. Moreover, the selected compounds were equally sensitive to both the wild-type osteosarcoma 143B and the thymidine kinase-deficient 143B/TK⁻ cell lines. The findings are consistent with that these compounds deliver AZT monophosphate intracellularly.     

Design and Synthesis of A3 Adenosine Receptor Ligands, 3′-Fluoro Analogues of Cl-IB-MECA

Abstract

Synthesis of 3′-deoxy-3′-fluoro-N ⁶-substituted adenosines as bioisosteres of Cl-IB-MECA and their binding affinities to A₃ adenosine receptor are described.     

Synthesis and Anti-HIV Evaluation of 3′-Triazolo Nucleosides

A series of hitherto unknown 3′-α-[1,2,3]-substituted triazolo-2′,3′-dideoxypyrimidine nucleoside analogues of the anti-HIV 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT) were synthesized through catalyzed alkyne-azide 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (Huisgen reaction). Those 3′-[1,2,3]-triazolo analogues bearing an azido alkyl chain were evaluated for their anti-HIV activity against HIV-1 in primary human lymphocytes as well as for their cytotoxicity in different cells. None of them inhibit HIV replication (EC₅₀ > 20 μM); two of them were converted to their triphosphate form to evaluate their HIV-RT inhibition.     

Biophysical and Structural Characterization of Novel RAS-Binding Domains (RBDs) of PI3Kα and PI3Kγ

Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinases (PI3Ks) are lipid kinases that phosphorylate phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate to generate a key lipid second messenger, phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-bisphosphate. PI3Kα and PI3Kγ require activation by RAS proteins to stimulate signaling pathways that control cellular growth, differentiation, motility and survival. Intriguingly, RAS binding to PI3K isoforms likely differ, as RAS mutations have been identified that discriminate between PI3Kα and PI3Kγ, consistent with low sequence homology (23%) between their RAS binding domains (RBDs). As disruption of the RAS/PI3Kα interaction reduces tumor growth in mice with RAS- and epidermal growth factor receptor driven skin and lung cancers, compounds that interfere with this key interaction may prove useful as anti-cancer agents. However, a structure of PI3Kα bound to RAS is lacking, limiting drug discovery efforts. Expression of full-length PI3K isoforms in insect cells has resulted in low yield and variable activity, limiting biophysical and structural studies of RAS/PI3K interactions. This led us to generate the first RBDs from PI3Kα and PI3Kγ that can be expressed at high yield in bacteria and bind to RAS with similar affinity to full-length PI3K. We also solved a 2.31 Å X-ray crystal structure of the PI3Kα-RBD, which aligns well to full-length PI3Kα. Structural differences between the PI3Kα and PI3Kγ RBDs are consistent with differences in thermal stability and may underly differential RAS recognition and RAS-mediated PI3K activation. These high expression, functional PI3K RBDs will aid in interrogating RAS interactions and could aid in identifying inhibitors of this key interaction.     

Synthesis of dl-3-Isobutyroxy-β-ionone and dl-Dehydrovomifoliol

3-Isobutyroxy-β-ionone (III) is the proposed structure of quiesone, the naturally occurring inhibitor of the germination of Peronospora tabacina conidia. This was synthesized as a racemate and shown to possess qualitatively identical biological activity as quiesone itself. Employing an intermediate of this synthesis, dl-dehydrovomifoliol (VII) was also synthesized.