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Fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1), a ubiquitously expressed pro-angiogenic protein that is involved in tissue repair, carcinogenesis, and maintenance of vasculature stability, is released from the cells via a stress-dependent nonclassical secretory pathway. FGF1 secretion is a result of transmembrane translocation of this protein. It correlates with the ability of FGF1 to permeabilize membranes composed of acidic phospholipids. Like several other nonclassically exported proteins, FGF1 exhibits β-barrel folding. To assess the role of folding of FGF1 in its secretion, we applied targeted mutagenesis in combination with a complex of biophysical methods and molecular dynamics studies, followed by artificial membrane permeabilization and stress-induced release experiments. It has been demonstrated that a mutation of proline 135 located in the C-terminus of FGF1 results in (i) partial unfolding of FGF1, (ii) a decrease in FGF1's ability to permeabilize bilayers composed of phosphatidylserine, and (iii) drastic inhibition of stress-induced FGF1 export. Thus, folding of FGF1 is critical for its nonclassical secretion.

Diastereoselective Hydroxyalkylations in Position 1 of Tetrahydroisoquinolines and Synthesis of Aporphine, Protoberberine, and Pathalide Alkaloids Unsubstituted and 6,7-dialkoxy-N-pivaloyl-tetrahydroisoquinolines 1–3 are converted to 1-bromomagnesium derivatives by sequential treatment with t-BuLi (−75°/THF) and MBr2.OEt2. Addition of the metalated tetrahydroisoquinolines to aliphatic or aromatic aldehydes occurs with relative topicity ul (Scheme 2). The 1-hydroxyalkylated 2-pivaloyl-tetrahydroisoquinolines a of u-configuration thus obtained (14 examples) can be converted to free aminoalcohols c of either l-or u-configuration (9 examples; Scheme 3). The depivaloylation with retention ( u-c) is best achieved by heating in EtOH/KOH, the conversion to 1-aminoalcohols l-c by treatment with CF3COOH/(CF3CO)2O ( l,-pivalates l-b), followed by alkaline saponification or by LiAlH4 reduction of the esters. The configuration of the products is assigned by 1H-NMR spectroscopy, by X-ray crystal structure analysis, by chemical correlation, and by comparison of the chemical properties of the l- and the u-isomers. The diastereoselective hydroxybenzylation of the tetrahydroisoquinoline is used for short syntheses of ushinsunine/oliveroline (Scheme 4), β-hydrastine, and ophiocarpine/epiopliocarpine (Scheme 6; aporphine, phthalide, and protoberberine alkaloids, respectively).