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Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is an epithelial-derived cytokine that plays an important role in immune-mediated diseases such as asthma, atopic dermatitis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Although IL-33 is considered a potential target for the treatment of allergy-related diseases, no small molecule that inhibits IL-33 has been reported. Based on the structure-activity relationship and in vitro 2D NMR studies employing 15 N-labeled IL-33, we identified that the oxazolo[4,5-c]-quinolinone analog 7 c binds to the interface region of IL-33 and IL-33 receptor (ST2), an orphan receptor of the IL-1 receptor family. Compound 7 c effectively inhibited the production of IL-6 in human mast cells in a dose-dependent manner. Compound 7 c is the first low molecular weight IL-33 inhibitor and may be used as a prototype molecule for structural optimization and investigation of the IL-33/ST2 signaling pathway.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is an opportunistic human pathogen that forms biofilms and produces virulence factors via quorum sensing (QS). Blocking the QS system in P. aeruginosa is an e...

Baicalein (5,6,7-trihydroxy-2-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one), a flavonoid analog from Scutellaria baicalensis, possesses several pharmacological activities including antioxidant, antiproliferative, and anti-inflammatory activities. We previously reported that baicalein inhibits the thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP)/TSLP receptor (TSLPR) signaling pathways and can be used as an active ingredient in the treatment of asthma and atopic dermatitis. However, baicalein is rapidly metabolized to baicalin and baicalein-6-O-glucuronide in vivo, which limits its preclinical and clinical use. In this study, we designed, synthesized, and evaluated baicalein prodrugs that protect the OH group at the 7-position of the A ring in baicalein with the amino acid carbamate functional group. Comprehensive in vitro and in vivo studies identified compound 2 as a baicalein prodrug candidate that improved the plasma exposure of baicalein in mouse animal studies. Our results demonstrated that this prodrug approach could be further adopted to discover oral baicalein prodrugs.

Hepsin is a type II transmembrane serine protease (TTSP) associated with cell proliferation and overexpressed in several types of cancer including prostate cancer (PCa). Because of its significant role in cancer progression and metastasis, hepsin is an attractive protein as a potential therapeutic and diagnostic biomarker for PCa. Based on the reported Leu-Arg dipeptide-based hepsin inhibitors, we performed structural modification and determined in vitro hepsin- and matriptase-inhibitory activities. Comprehensive structure-activity relationship studies identified that the p-guanidinophenylalanine-based dipeptide analog 22a exhibited a strong hepsin-inhibitory activity (Ki = 50.5 nM) and 22-fold hepsin selectivity over matriptase. Compound 22a could be a prototype molecule for structural optimization of dipeptide-based hepsin inhibitors.

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), a type II membrane glycoprotein, is considered an excellent target for the diagnosis or treatment of prostate cancer. We previously investigated the effect of β- and γ-amino acids with (S)- or (R)-configuration in the S1 pocket on the binding affinity for PSMA. However, comprehensive studies on the effect of α-amino acid with (R)-configuration in the S1' pocket has not been reported yet. We selected ZJ-43 (1) and DCIBzL (5) as templates and synthesized their analogues with (S)- or (R)-configuration in the P1 and P1' regions. The PSMA-inhibitory activities of compounds with altered chirality in the P1' region were dropped dramatically, with their IC50 values changing from nM to μM ranges. The compounds with (S)-configuration at both P1 and P1' regions were more potent than the others. The findings of this study may provide insights regarding the structural modification of PSMA inhibitor in the S1' binding pocket.

There are few hybrid positron emission tomography (PET)/fluorescence imaging agents available for brain imaging. For this purpose, BODIPY dye is very attractive because one of its fluorine atoms can be readily exchanged with 18F, and it can be modified to produce red-shifted fluorescence. In this study, therefore, we synthesized and investigated a 18F-labeled red-shifted BODIPY dye as a prosthetic group for brain hybrid PET/optical imaging agents and determined the optimal dose of this radioligand for hybrid imaging. The red-shifted BODIPY dye (1) was synthesized, and one of its fluorine atoms was exchanged with 18F using SnCl4 in high yield. Partition coefficients of 18F-labeled BODIPY dye ([18F]1) and 1 were measured using its radioactivity and fluorescence, respectively, which were shown to be suitable for brain penetration. Optimal dose for hybrid imaging was determined by analysis of PET/CT and optical images of Balb/C nude mice injected with [18F]1 and 1, respectively. Hybrid PET/optical images of mice injected with optimal dose of [18F]1 showed strong radioactivity and fluorescence signal in the brain at 2 min after injection, with rapid clearance by 30 min. Tissue distribution data confirmed the in vivo and ex vivo PET/optical imaging data, indicating desirable brain pharmacokinetics of the radioligand. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that [18F]1 can be widely used as a prosthetic group for brain hybrid PET/optical imaging agents.

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is a type II cytokine which is associated with most inflammatory allergic disorders in humans. It is produced mainly by epithelial cells with important role in the development of chronic inflammatory diseases by activating T-helper cell type-2 (T H 2) pathways. In this study, a total of 16 peptides were prepared by solid phase peptide synthesis based on amino acid sequences of the interface between TSLP and TSLP receptor. Their TSLP inhibition activities were determined by ELISA assay. Among them, three peptides ( 6 − 8 ) exhibited >50% inhibition at concentration of 0.3 mM. They can be used as hit compounds for developing peptide-based TSLP inhibitors.

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is an excellent biomarker for the early diagnosis of prostate cancer progression and metastasis. The most promising PSMA-targeted agents in the clinical phase are based on the Lys-urea-Glu motif, in which Lys and Glu are α-(l)-amino acids. In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of β- and γ-amino acids in the S1 pocket on the binding affinity for PSMA. We synthesized and evaluated the β- and γ-amino acid analogues with (S)- or (R)-configuration with keeping α-(l)-Glu as the S1'-binding pharmacophore. The structure-activity relationship studies identified that compound 13c, a β-amino acid analogue with (R)-configuration, exhibited the most potent PSMA inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 3.97 nM. The X-ray crystal structure of PSMA in complex with 13c provided a mechanistic basis for the stereochemical preference of PSMA, which can guide the development of future PSMA inhibitors.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Stereo- and regioselective formation of glycosidic linkages is a challenging topic in oligosaccharide syntheses. The stereoselective construction of 1,2-trans-glycosides generally involves neighboring group participation, which is less successful when synthesizing β-1,3-linked oligosaccharides. The combined steric effect of a 2-O-substituent and an aglycon moiety in acceptors increases the efficiency of glycosylation via neighboring group participation. This steric effect was reduced by using vicinal polyol acceptors and was demonstrated in the synthesis of 1,3-linked branched oligosaccharides.

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) plays an important role in the differentiation and proliferation of Th2 cells, resulting in eosinophilic inflammation and numerous allergic diseases. Baicalein (1), a major component of Scutellaria baicalensis, was found to be the first small molecule to block TSLP signaling pathways. It inhibited effectively eosinophil infiltration in house dust mite-induced and ovalbumin-challenged mouse models. Structure-activity relationship studies identified compound 11a, a biphenyl flavanone analog, as a novel human TSLP inhibitor for the discovery and development of new anti-allergic drugs.

Hepsin is a type II serine protease that is highly expressed in neoplastic prostate. It is an attractive biomarker for imaging metastatic prostate cancer because of its overexpression in advanced prostate cancer and the location of its active site on the cell surface. We designed and synthesized novel hepsin-targeted imaging probes by conjugating the hepsin-binding ligand with near-infrared (NIR) optical dyes. The Leu-Arg dipeptides, attached to BODIPY or SulfoCy7, exhibited strong hepsin-inhibitory activities with Ki values of 21 and 22 nM, respectively. Compound 2 showed selective uptake and retention in hepsin-overexpressing cells. This is the first report of hepsin-targeted optical probes with strong binding affinities and high selectivity over matriptase. Compound 2 has the potential to be used for developing hepsin-based imaging probes and be as a prototype molecule in the design of new hepsin inhibitors.

Investigations into metabolic processes within the cell have often relied on genetic methods such as forced expression and knockout or knockdown techniques. An alternative approach would be introducing a molecule into the desired location inside the cell. To translocate compounds from outside cells into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), we constructed a delivery carrier protein. This comprised N-terminal galectin-1 for cell-surface binding (G1), a protease cleavable sequence (ps), a HaloTag domain for attaching exogenous compounds (Halo), and a C-terminal KDEL sequence for ER retention. Fluorescently labeled G1-ps-Halo-KDEL passed through the Golgi apparatus and reached the ER. By using Man9 GlcNAc2 -BODIPY as a cargo compound, the carrier protein was also delivered into the ER with concomitant processing of mannose to Man5,6, by the ER-resident α1,2-mannosidase. G1-ps-Halo-KDEL might serve as a new type of delivery carrier protein to direct compounds into the ER.

Hepsin, a type II transmembrane serine protease, is an attractive protein as a potential therapeutic and diagnostic biomarker for prostate cancer because it is highly up-regulated in prostate cancer and promotes both progression and metastasis. Starting from the reported tetrapeptide hepsin inhibitor Ac-KQLR-ketothiazole (kt) (1), we investigated the minimal structural requirements for hepsin inhibitory activity by truncating amino acids at the N-terminus. The kt and ketobenzothiazole (kbt) dipeptide analogs Ac-LR-kt (3) and Ac-LR-kbt (15) were found to be potent hepsin inhibitors, exhibiting Ki values of 22nM and 3nM, respectively. The present work suggests that LR-containing dipeptide molecules could be useful as lead compounds for the development of novel hepsin inhibitors.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a causative agent of chronic infections in immunocompromised patients. Disruption of quorum sensing circuits is an attractive strategy for treating diseases associated with P. aeruginosa infection. In this study, we designed and synthesized a series of gingerol analogs targeting LasR, a master regulator of quorum sensing networks in P. aeruginosa. Structure-activity relationship studies showed that a hydrogen-bonding interaction in the head section, stereochemistry and rotational rigidity in the middle section, and optimal alkyl chain length in the tail section are important factors for the enhancement of LasR-binding affinity and for the inhibition of biofilm formation. The most potent compound 41, an analog of (R)-8-gingerol with restricted rotation, showed stronger LasR-binding affinity and inhibition of biofilm formation than the known LasR antagonist (S)-6-gingerol. This new LasR antagonist can be used as an early lead compound for the development of anti-biofilm agents to treat P. aeruginosa infections.

Hepsin is a type II transmembrane serine protease (TTSP) that plays a crucial role in cell growth and development. Hepsin is highly expressed in prostate cancer (PCa) and associated with its progression and metastasis. Therefore, it has been considered as an attractive biomarker of PCa. Recently, low molecular weight inhibitors targeting hepsin have been developed. Based on the key chemical scaffold, they can be classified into four classes: Indolecarboxamidines, benzamidines, peptide-based analogs, and 2,3-dihydro- 1H-perimidines. In this review, we discuss design strategy, structure-activity relationship (SAR), and binding mode of the four classes of hepsin inhibitors.

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a zinc-bound metalloprotease which is highly expressed in metastatic prostate cancer. It has been considered an excellent target protein for prostate cancer imaging and targeted therapy because it is a membrane protein and its active site is located in the extracellular region. We successfully synthesized and evaluated a novel PSMA ligand conjugated with BODIPY650/665. Compound 1 showed strong PSMA-inhibitory activity and selective uptake into PSMA-expressing tumors. Compound 1 has the potential to be utilized as a near infrared (NIR) optical imaging probe targeting PSMA-expressing cancers.

Two novel asymmetric BODIPY fluoroionophores with dipicolylamine (BDP-DPA, dipicolylamine: bis(pyridylmethyl)) and terpyridine (BDP-TPY) are described. These fluoroionophores display opposite wavelength responses on complexation with heavy metal ions. Furthermore, the fluorescence spectra vary depending on the ionic species. In particular, BDP-DPA shows a high affinity toward Cr3+ and upon complexation, the fluorescence spectrum blue-shifts from 591 to 566 nm. In contrast, BDP-TPY preferentially binds to Zn2+ and the fluorescence spectra red-shifts from 539 to 567 nm. BDP-TPY is the first example of asymmetric BODIPY with a pyridyl receptor at the 3 position showing redshifted fluorescence by complexation with metal ions. The concentration of each metal ion was successfully determined by ratiometric measurement. The wavelength-responses characteristics of these fluoroionophores could be very useful in the development of novel ratiometric fluoroionophores for metal ions.

LETTER, Oligosaccharide containing macrolides of resin glycosides were effectively constructed by MeOTf promoted intramolecular glycosylation of dodecyl thioglycosyl donors. Synthesis of a key disaccharide intermediate of tricolorin A and total synthesis of tricolorin F were successfully achieved by this approach.

Fully acetylated dodecyl thioglycosides were found to be useful as glycosyl donors by activation with 1-benzenesulfinyl piperidine (BSP) and triflic anhydride (Tf 2 O) at −78 °C. The glycosyl acceptor was added to the reaction mixture at the same temperature to furnish various disaccharide, including the protected Lewis a (Le a ) trisaccharide, in good yields.

The first total synthesis of a unique tetrasaccharide repeating unit of lipopolysaccharide from Salmonella enteritidis has been accomplished by assembly of dodecyl thioglycosides. The crucial key steps were preparation of a rare branched dideoxy sugar, d -tyvelose (3,6-dideoxy- d -arabino- d -hexose) and sequential regioselective glycosylation at 2,3-positions of a central d -mannose residue 5 with d -tyvelose 6 and d -galactose donors 7.

In this article, we report a relationship between glycan structures and expression levels of a recombinant ER-resident glycoprotein, uridine 5′-diphosphate-glucose: glycoprotein glucosyltransferase (UGGT1). The function of glycan structures attached to a glycoprotein is actively studied; however, the glycan structures of recombinant, and not endogenous, glycoproteins have not been examined. In this study, we indicate a relationship between the glycan structure and the level of protein expression. Expression levels were controlled utilizing a series of vectors (pFN21K, pFN22K, pFN23K, and pFN24K HaloTag CMV Flexi Vectors). Qualitative and semi-quantitative confirmation of glycan structures was achieved with tandem mass spectrometry. The results of this study indicate that glycan structures are similar to endogenous glycans at low expression levels.

Chemiluminescent solvatochromic dye has been synthesized by the condensation of a chemiluminescent moiety into a fluorescent solvatochromic dye via the Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling. The chemilumin...

Sialic acid derivatives, analogs, and their conjugates are expected to be pharmaceutical candidates such as anti-influenza drugs and also useful probes for investigating the biological role of glycoconjugates. Derivatives of 3-fluorinated sialic acid (3-F-Sia) have been found to be excellent probes in investigating functions and mechanisms of a series of proteins. Here, we describe the syntheses of 3-F-Sia derivatives, which are useful in making biologically important conjugate probes. A practical method for the construction of 3-fluorinated sialosides based on the stereoselective formation of the corresponding anomeric O-trimethylsilyl ether and their nucleophilic attack by an alkyl halide, an allyl halide in particular, was developed. In addition, details of the synthesis of cytidine monophosphate (CMP)-3-F-Sia bearing a fluorescent tag, which has been proven to show dual functions as a substrate of CMP-sialic acid transporter (CST) and an inhibitor of sialyltransferase (STase), are described.

Lactosyl ceramide analogues carrying novel bifunctional BODIPY-based fluorescent tags were designed and synthesised for live cell imaging. Addition of azide functionality on the fluorophore facilitated isobaric tagging for quantitative multiplexed analysis of biomolecules based on tandem mass spectrometry.

Four novel chiral anionic surfactants having carbohydrate hydrophilic heads, sodium n-dodecyl 1-thio-beta-D-glucopyranoside 6-hydrogen sulfate (6-betaGlcD), sodium n-dodecyl 1-thio-beta-L-glucopyranoside 6-hydrogen sulfate (6-betaGlcL), sodium n-dodecyl 1-thio-beta-L-fucopyranoside 3-hydrogen sulfate (3-betaFucL), and sodium n-dodecyl 1-thio-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside 3-hydrogen sulfate (3-alphaRhaL), were synthesized by selective sulfation of the corresponding thioglycosides. Their CMC determined by fluorescence using pyrene as a probe in water was 1.3-2.7 mM. These surfactants found to be useful as chiral selectors for enantiomeric separation by MEKC. The enantiomeric separation was optimized with respect to pH, buffer concentration, and surfactant concentration. Under the optimized conditions (50 mM phosphate buffer at pH 6.5, 30 mM surfactant, 20 kV), the enantiomeric separations of five dansylated amino acids (Dns-AAs) were achieved within approximately 20 min with the migration order of Val