Design,Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Unconventional Aminopyrimidine,Aminopurine, and Amino‐1,3,5‐triazine Methyloxynucleosides

Herein we describe a class of unconventional nucleosides (methyloxynucleosides) that combine unconventional nucleobases such as substituted aminopyrimidines, aminopurines, or aminotriazines with unusual sugars in their structures. The allitollyl or altritollyl derivatives were pursued as ribonucleoside mimics, whereas the tetrahydrofuran analogues were pursued as their dideoxynucleoside analogues. The compounds showed poor, if any, activity against a broad range of RNA and DNA viruses, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This inactivity may be due to lack of an efficient metabolic conversion into their corresponding 5′‐triphosphates and poor affinity for their target enzymes (DNA/RNA polymerases). Several compounds showed cytostatic activity against proliferating human CD4⁺ T‐lymphocyte CEM cells and against several other tumor cell lines, including murine leukemia L1210 and human prostate PC3, kidney CAKI‐1, and cervical carcinoma HeLa cells. A few compounds were inhibitory to Moloney murine sarcoma virus (MSV) in C3H/3T3 cell cultures, with the 2,6‐diaminotri‐O‐benzyl‐D ‐allitolyl‐ and ‐D ‐altritolyl pyrimidine analogues being the most potent among them. This series of unconventional nucleosides may represent a novel family of potential antiproliferative agents.     

Design,synthesis and HIV-RT inhibitory activity of novel thiazolidin-4-one derivatives

A series of 2-aryl-3-(4,5,6-trimethylpyrimidin-2-yl) thiazolidin-4-ones (1a–1c) and their derivatives bearing a lipophilic substituent, like acetoxy group (3a–3c), propionyloxy group (4a–4c), methyl (5d and 5e) at C-5 on thiazolidin-4-one ring were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their HIV-RT inhibitory activity. Using self-catalyzed Pummerer reaction, compounds 3a–3c and 4a–4c were obtained in good yield (63.1%–75.2%). Preliminary anti-HIV-RT test of these derivatives indicated that compounds 1a–1c, 4b (propionyloxy group at C-5) showed moderate HIV-RT inhibitory activity and compounds 5d and 5e with methyl at C-5 showed a weak HIV-RT inhibitory activity. Structure activity relationship analysis suggested that the substituted groups on C-5 would be unfavorable to anti-HIV-RT activity and that the steric effect might play a critical role in the anti-HIV RT activity.     

Scandium‐Catalyzed Cascade Cyclization to Produce Cyclobutane‐Fused Tetrahydroquinoline,Chromane, Thiochromane,and Tetrahydronaphthalene Derivatives

We have succeeded in the highly diastereoselective synthesis of cyclobutane‐fused multi‐cyclic compounds using a scandium‐catalyzed cascade cyclization. Using 3–10 mol% of scandium(III) triflate [Sc(OTf)₃], various cyclobutane‐fused tetrahydroquinoline derivatives as well as its chromane, thiochromane, and tetrahydronaphthalene analogues were obtained in good to excellent yields. Derivatizations of the reaction products, as well as the plausible reaction mechanism, are also discussed.

     

The DiPPro Approach: Synthesis,Hydrolysis, and Antiviral Activity of Lipophilic d4T Diphosphate Prodrugs

Bioreversible protection of the β‐phosphate group of nucleoside diphosphates (NDPs) as bis(acyloxybenzyl)phosphate esters is presented. To investigate the structure–activity relationship of these potential NDP prodrugs (DiPPro drugs) a series of DiPPro compounds was synthesized bearing fatty acids of various lengths and d4T as a model nucleoside. For synthesis of the lipophilically modified diphosphate group, preformed phosphoramidites were allowed to react with nucleotides, and the β‐P^III moiety was subsequently oxidized. The chemical and enzymatic stability of these prodrugs was studied in different media such as phosphate buffer (pH 7.3) or CEM cell extracts. In all media, the hydrolysis rate was clearly dependent on the acyl moiety and decreased with increasing alkyl chain length. The compounds showed a markedly lower half‐life in cell extracts than in pH 7.3 phosphate buffer due to the presence of enzyme‐catalyzed cleavage. In all media, the DiPPro compounds released d4T diphosphate (d4TDP) as the main product beside d4TMP. In antiviral assays, the compounds proved to be at least as potent as d4T against HIV‐1 and 2 in wild‐type CEM/0 cells. As a proof of concept, compounds with longer acyl residues showed very good anti‐HIV activities in thymidine‐kinase‐deficient cells (CEM/TK^?), indicating their ability to penetrate cell membranes and the delivery of phosphorylated metabolites.     

Recycling and Reshaping—E3 Ligases and DUBs in the Initiation of T Cell Receptor-Mediated Signaling and Response

T cell activation plays a central role in supporting and shaping the immune response. The induction of a functional adaptive immune response requires the control of signaling processes downstream of the T cell receptor (TCR). In this regard, protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation have been extensively studied. In the past decades, further checkpoints of activation have been identified. These are E3 ligases catalyzing the transfer of ubiquitin or ubiquitin-like proteins to protein substrates, as well as specific peptidases to counteract this reaction, such as deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs). These posttranslational modifications can critically influence protein interactions by targeting proteins for degradation by proteasomes or mediating the complex formation required for active TCR signaling. Thus, the basic aspects of T cell development and differentiation are controlled by defining, e.g., the threshold of activation in positive and negative selection in the thymus. Furthermore, an emerging role of ubiquitination in peripheral T cell tolerance has been described. Changes in the function and abundance of certain E3 ligases or DUBs involved in T cell homeostasis are associated with the development of autoimmune diseases. This review summarizes the current knowledge of E3 enzymes and their target proteins regulating T cell signaling processes and discusses new approaches for therapeutic intervention.     

Design,Synthesis and Evaluation of 2,4-Diaminoquinazoline Derivatives as Potential Tubulin Polymerization Inhibitors

Microtubules are highly dynamic polymers composed of α- and β-tubulin proteins that have been shown to be potential therapeutic targets for the development of anticancer drugs. Currently, a wide variety of chemically diverse agents that bind to β-tubulin have been reported. Nocodazole (NZ) and colchicine (COL) are well-known tubulin-depolymerizing agents that have close binding sites in the β-tubulin. In this study, we designed and synthesized a set of nine 2,4-diaminoquinazoline derivatives that could occupy both NZ and COL binding sites. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their antiproliferative activities against five cancer cell lines (PC-3, HCT-15, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and SK-LU-1), a noncancerous one (COS-7), and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The effect of compounds 4 e and 4 i on tubulin organization and polymerization was analyzed on the SK-LU-1 cell line by indirect immunofluorescence, western blotting, and tubulin polymerization assays. Our results demonstrated that both compounds exert their antiproliferative activity by inhibiting tubulin polymerization. Finally, a possible binding pose of 4 i in the NZ/COL binding site was determined by using molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) approaches. To our knowledge, this is the first report of non-N-substituted 2,4-diaminoquinazoline derivatives with the ability to inhibit tubulin polymerization.     

Synthesis of 2,6‐Dihalogenated Purine Nucleosides by Thermostable Nucleoside Phosphorylases

The enzymatic transglycosylation of 2,6‐dichloropurine (26DCP) and 6‐chloro‐2‐fluoropurine (6C2FP) with uridine, thymidine and 1‐(β‐D ‐arabinofuranosyl)‐uracil as the pentofuranose donors and recombinant thermostable nucleoside phosphorylases from G. thermoglucosidasius or T. thermophilus as biocatalysts was studied. Selection of 26DCP and 6C2FP as substrates is determined by their higher solubility in aqueous buffer solutions compared to most natural and modified purines and, furthermore, synthesized nucleosides are valuable precursors for the preparation of a large number of biologically important nucleosides. The substrate activity of 26DCP and 6C2FP in the synthesis of their ribo‐ and 2′‐deoxyribo‐nucleosides was closely similar to that of related 2‐amino‐ (DAP), 2‐chloro‐ and 2‐fluoroadenines; the efficiency of the synthesis of β‐D ‐arabinofuranosides of 26DCP and 6C2FP was lower vs. that of DAP under similar reaction conditions. For a convenient and easier recovery of the biocatalysts, the thermostable enzymes were immobilized on MagReSyn^® epoxide beads and the biocatalyst showed high catalytic efficiency in a number of reactions. As an example, 6‐chloro‐2‐fluoro‐(β‐D ‐ribofuranosyl)‐purine ( 9 ), a precursor of various antiviral and antitumour drugs, was synthesized by the immobilized enzymes at 60 °C under high substrate concentrations (uridine:purine ratio of 2:1, mol). The synthesis was successfully scaled‐up [uridine (2.5 mmol), base (1.25 mmol); reaction mixture 50 mL] to afford 9 in 60% yield. The reaction reveals the great practical potential of this enzymatic method for the efficient production of modified purine nucleosides of pharmaceutical interest.

     

Tranylcypromine-Based LSD1 Inhibitors: Structure-Activity Relationships,Antiproliferative Effects in Leukemia,and Gene Target Modulation

Abstract : LSD1 is a lysine demethylase highly involved in initiation and development of cancer. To design highly effective covalent inhibitors, a strategy is to fill its large catalytic cleft by designing tranylcypromine (TCP) analogs decorated with long, hindered substituents. We prepared three series of TCP analogs, carrying aroyl- and arylacetylamino ( 1 a – h ), Z-amino acylamino ( 2 a – o ), or double-substituted benzamide ( 3 a – n ) residues at the C4 or C3 position of the phenyl ring. Further fragments obtained by chemical manipulation applied on the TCP scaffold (compounds 4 a – i ) were also prepared. When tested against LSD1, most of 1 and 3 exhibited IC₅₀ values in the low nanomolar range, with 1 e and 3 a , d , f , g being also the most selective respect to monoamine oxidases. In MV4-11 AML and NB4 APL cells compounds 3 were the most potent, displaying up to sub-micromolar cell growth inhibition against both cell lines ( 3 a ) or against NB4 cells ( 3 c ). The most potent compounds in cellular assays were also able to induce the expression of LSD1 target genes, such as GFI-1b, ITGAM, and KCTD12, as functional read-out for LSD1 inhibition. Mouse and human intrinsic clearance data highlighted the high metabolic stability of compounds 3 a , 3 d and 3 g . Further studies will be performed on the new compounds 3 a and 3 c to assess their anticancer potential in different cancer contexts.     

EGFR(T790M)抑制剂的设计、合成及活性评价

表皮生长因子受体(EGFR)的T790M突变最为频发,也是肺癌临床治疗失败的主要原因之一。鉴于先导化合物B6优良的抗H1975细胞系和异植瘤活性,对其进行了EGFR(T790M)激酶抑制活性的确认,并使用Autodock软件确认了两者的相互作用。以EGFR(T790M)为靶点对B6进行定向结构修饰,所得目标化合物经NMR和MS表征后,联合体外激酶、细胞生物活性与Autodock软件解释它们的构效关系。结果表明,3-(苯并[d][1,3]二氧杂-5-基)-1-(1-(乙烯基磺酰基)哌啶-4-基)-1H-吡唑并[3,4-d]嘧啶-4-胺的抗H1975细胞增殖活性(IC₅₀=(1.16±0.24)μmol/L)与B6(IC₅₀=(0.91±0.36)μmol/L)相似,尽管其对EGFR(T790M)的抑制活性(IC₅₀=(148.2±7.2)nmol/L)不如B6(IC₅₀=(22.0±2.6)nmol/L)。以7H-吡咯并[2,3-d]嘧啶-4-胺为母核,取代基分别为胡椒环基和4-取代哌啶基者可开发活性更优的EGFR(T790M)抑制剂,指导后期研究。     

Species-specific activity of glycolipid ligands for invariant NKT cells

The immunomodulatory glycolipid α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) binds to CD1d and exhibits potent activity as a ligand for invariant CD1d-restricted natural killer-like T cells (iNKT cells). Structural analogues of α-GalCer have been synthesised to determine which components are required for CD1d presentation and iNKT cell activation, however, to date the importance of the phytosphingosine 4-hydroxyl for iNKT cell activation has been disputed. To clarify this, we synthesised two 4-deoxy α-GalCer analogues (sphinganine and sphingosine) and investigated their ability to activate murine and human iNKT cells. Analysis revealed that the analogues possessed comparable activity to α-GalCer in stimulating murine iNKT cells, but were severely compromised in their ability to stimulate human iNKT cells. Here we determined that species-specific glycolipid activity was due to a lack of recognition of the analogues by the T-cell receptors on human iNKT cells rather than insufficient presentation of the analogues on human CD1d molecules. From these results we suggest that glycolipids developed for potent iNKT cell activity in humans should contain a phytosphingosine base.     

Halogen Bonding in Biomimetic Deiodination of Thyroid Hormones and their Metabolites and Dehalogenation of Halogenated Nucleosides

Thyroid hormones (THs) are key players in the endocrine system and play pivotal roles in carbohydrate and fat metabolism, protein synthesis, overall growth, and brain development. The thyroid gland predominantly produces thyroxine or 3,5,3′,5′-tetraiodothyronine (T4) as a prohormone; three isoforms of a mammalian selenoenzyme—iodothyronine deiodinase (DIO1, DIO2 and DIO3)—catalyze the regioselective deiodination of T4 to produce biologically active and inactive metabolites. Whereas DIO1 catalyzes both 5- and 5′-deiodination of T4, DIO2 and DIO3 selectively mediate 5- and 5′-deiodination, respectively. In this review we discuss the regioselective deiodination of THs in the presence of organochalcogen compounds. Naphthalene-based compounds containing sulfur and/or selenium at the peri positions mediate regioselective 5-deiodination of THs, detailed mechanistic studies having revealed that the heterolytic cleavage of the C−I bond is facilitated by the formation of cooperative Se/S ⋅⋅⋅ I halogen bonds and Se/S ⋅⋅⋅ Se chalcogen bonds. We also discuss the biomimetic deiodination of several TH metabolites, including sulfated THs, iodothyronamines, and iodotyrosines. A brief discussion on the dehalogenation of halogenated nucleosides and nucleobases in the presence of organochalcogen compounds is also included.     

Synthesis and Antiviral Evaluation of TriPPPro‐AbacavirTP,TriPPPro‐CarbovirTP,and Their 1′,2′‐cis‐Disubstituted Analogues

Herein we describe the synthesis of lipophilic triphosphate prodrugs of abacavir, carbovir, and their 1′,2′‐cis‐substituted carbocyclic analogues. The 1′,2′‐cis‐carbocyclic nucleosides were prepared by starting from enantiomerically pure (1R,2S)‐2‐((benzyloxy)methyl)cyclopent‐3‐en‐1‐ol by a microwave‐assisted Mitsunobu‐type reaction with 2‐amino‐6‐chloropurine. All four nucleoside analogues were prepared from their 2‐amino‐6‐chloropurine precursors. The nucleosides were converted into their corresponding nucleoside triphosphate prodrugs (TriPPPro approach) by application of the H‐phosphonate route. The TriPPPro compounds were hydrolyzed in different media, in which the formation of nucleoside triphosphates was proven. While the TriPPPro compounds of abacavir and carbovir showed increased antiviral activity over their parent nucleoside, the TriPPPro compounds of the 1′,2′‐cis‐substituted analogues as well as their parent nucleosides proved to be inactive against HIV.     

Cytotoxicity of Newly Synthesized Quinazoline–Sulfonamide Derivatives in Human Leukemia Cell Lines and Their Effect on Hematopoiesis in Zebrafish Embryos

Many quinazoline derivatives with pharmacological properties, such as anticancer activity, have been synthesized. Fourteen quinazoline derivatives bearing a substituted sulfonamide moiety (4a–n) were previously synthesized and fully characterized. These compounds exerted antiproliferative activity against cell lines derived from solid tumors. Herein, the antileukemic activities of these compounds (4a–n) against two different leukemia cell lines (Jurkat acute T cell and THP-1 acute monocytic) were investigated. Our investigation included examining their activity in vivo in a zebrafish embryo model. Remarkably, compounds 4a and 4d were the most potent in suppressing cell proliferation, with an IC₅₀ value range of 4–6.5 µM. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that both compounds halted cell progression at the G2/M phase and induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. RT-PCR and Western blot analyses also showed that both compounds effectively induced apoptosis by upregulating the expression of proapoptotic factors while downregulating that of antiapoptotic factors. In vivo animal toxicity assays performed in zebrafish embryos indicated that compound 4d was more toxic than compound 4a, with compound 4d inducing multiple levels of teratogenic phenotypes in zebrafish embryos at a sublethal concentration. Moreover, both compounds perturbed the hematopoiesis process in developing zebrafish embryos. Collectively, our data suggest that compounds 4a and 4d have the potential to be used as antileukemic agents.     

Drawdown mechanism of light particles in baffled stirred tank for the KR desulphurization process

To improve the efficiency of the desulfurization process, the drawdown mechanism of light particles in stirred tank is studied in this paper. For both up and down pumping modes, the just drawdown speeds(Njd) of floating particles in transformative Kanbara Reactor(KR) are measured in one and four baffled stirred tanks experimentally. Then numerical simulations with standard k-ε model coupled with volume of fluid model(VOF) and discrete phase model(DPM) are conducted to analyze the flow field at the just drawdown speed Njd. The torques on the impeller obtained from experiments and simulations agree well with each other, which indicates the validity of our numerical simulations. Based on the simulations, three main drawdown mechanisms for floating particles, the axial circulation, turbulent fluctuation and largescale eddies, are analyzed. It's found that the axial circulation dominates the drawdown process at small submergence(S = 1/4 T and 1/3 T) and the large-scale eddies play a major role at large submergence(S = 2/3 T and 3/4 T). Besides, the turbulent fluctuation affects the drawdown process significantly for up pumping mode at small submergence(S = 1/4 T and 1/3 T) and for down pumping mode at large submergence(S = 2/3 T and 3/4 T). This paper helps to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the KR desulphurizer drawdown process in the baffled stirred tank.     

Antidyslipidemic and Antioxidant Effects of Novel Lupeol-Derived Chalcones

A series of Lupeol-based chalcones have been synthesized aiming to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of parent compound, the novel compounds were evaluated for their antidyslipidemic activity in triton-WR 1339 induced hyperlipidemic rats. Among the ten synthesized chalcones, the most active K4, K8, and K9 reversed the plasma levels of TC by (24, 25, 27 %), phospholipid by (25, 26, 25 %) and triacylglycerol by (27, 24, 24 %) respectively. In addition, the compounds showed significant in vitro antioxidant activity. The lipid lowering activity of these compounds were mediated through lipoprotein lipase activation (12–21 %) and enhanced post-heparin lipolytic activity (15–16 %). The compounds also displayed noteworthy inhibitory effect on 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl reductase activity (in vitro). The in vitro effect of the most active compounds on MDI-induced adipogenesis using 3T3-L1 preadipocytes at 10 and 20 μM concentrations showed significant inhibition (20–32 %) of adipogenesis.     

吲哚席夫碱类衍生物的合成及其抗HIV-1活性研究

设计、合成吲哚席夫碱类衍生物并研究其抗HIV-1活性。以3-吲哚甲醛衍生物为原料,在碱催化下与芳香胺发生缩合反应合成吲哚席夫碱类化合物,并采用通过 MTT 法测试了目标化合物在MT-4 细胞内的抗 HIV-1病毒株的活性。 合成了32个吲哚席夫碱类衍生物,其结构均通过1H NMR和MS加以确证。初步的生物活性结果测试表明,所合成的吲哚席夫碱类化合物对HIV-1均有优秀的抑制活性,并具有广谱的抗HIV-1活性。其中化合物31 (EC50 = 0.06 mol/L)展现出了最强的抗HIV-1活性,与阳性药物地拉韦啶 (DLV, EC50 = 0.57 mol/L)相当;同时,化合物31具有非常低的毒性,选择指数 (SI)高达2500,明显高于地拉韦啶 (DLV, SI = 1272.9)和依法韦仑 (EFV, SI = 321)。将吲哚和席夫碱两个药效团,能够得到高效、低毒的HIV-1逆转录酶抑制剂,为今后发展新型的HIV-1抑制剂提供了新思路。     

两种进口HBV/HCV/HIV核酸筛查试剂的质量评价

目的对Gen-Probe公司的Procleix Ultrio(Ultrio)和Roche公司的Cobas TaqScreen MPX(MPX)HBV/HCV/HIV核酸筛查试剂的质量进行初步评价。方法从我国不同地区收集60份HIV-1感染者样品(包括59份HIV抗体阳性样品和1份HIV抗体阴性的HIV-1感染窗口期样品)及540份HIV抗体阴性样品,将60份HIV-1感染者样品随机分布于540份HIV阴性样品中,按照合并检测模式对600份样品进行检测,并对每种试剂的检测结果为阳性的样品汇集池(pool)分别按其说明书进一步进行拆分和/或鉴别试验。结果 MPX试剂和Ultrio试剂的单一人份样品检测(Individual donor test,IDT)结果一致的样品共586份,二者的符合率为97.67%,MPX试剂共有12份样品检测结果为假阳性,Ultrio试剂共有6份样品检测结果为假阳性,4份样品MPX试剂检测为阳性,而Ultrio试剂检测为阴性,其核酸含量较低(1份样品HIV-1RNA<40cp/ml,3份样品HBV DNA<12cp/ml),由于无法完成跟踪随访,因此不能确定其最终感染状态。结论 MPX试剂和Ultrio试剂检测结果具有较高的一致性,但对于HBV DNA、HCVRNA和HIV-1RNA含量较低的样品,二者检测结果可能存在一定的差异。