Arylpiperidines as a new class of oxidosqualene cyclase inhibitors.

The cyclization of oxidosqualene to lanosterol, catalyzed by the enzyme oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC), goes through a number of carbocationic high energy intermediates (HEI), and mimicking these intermediates is a promising approach for the development of OSC inhibitors. 3-Arylpiperidines (or tetrahydropyridines) were designed as steroidomimetic rings A + C equivalents containing two protonable amino groups for mimicking both the pro-C4 HEI and the pro-C20 HEI of the OSC-mediated cyclization cascade. Inhibitory activity is strongly dependent on the nature of the lipophilic substituent representing an equivalent of the sterol side chain.

A small molecule restores function to TRPML1 mutant isoforms responsible for mucolipidosis type IV.

Mucolipidosis type IV (MLIV) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder often characterized by severe neurodevelopmental abnormalities and neuro-retinal degeneration. Mutations in the TRPML1 gene are causative for MLIV. We used lead optimization strategies to identify--and MLIV patient fibroblasts to test--small-molecule activators for their potential to restore TRPML1 mutant channel function.