Reactivity of Imidazole- and Pyridine-Carboxaldehydes for Gem-Diol and Hemiacetal Generation: Theoretical and Experimental Insights.

Gem-diols are defined as organic molecules carrying two hydroxyl groups at the same carbon atom, which is the result of the nucleophilic addition of water to a carbonyl group. In this work, the generation of the hydrated or hemiacetal forms using pyridine- and imidazole-carboxaldehyde isomers in different chemical environments was studied by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) recorded in different media and combined with theoretical calculations. The change in the position of aldehyde group in either the pyridine or the imidazole ring had a clear effect in the course of the hydration/hemiacetal generation reaction, which was favored in protic solvents mainly in the presence of methanol.

In Silico Screening Identification of Fatty Acids and Fatty Acid Derivatives with Antiseizure Activity: In Vitro and In Vivo Validation.

High fat diets have been used as complementary treatments for seizure disorders for more than a century. Moreover, many fatty acids and derivatives, including the broad-spectrum antiseizure medication valproic acid, have been explored and used as pharmacological agents to treat epilepsy. In this work, we have explored the anticonvulsant potential of a large library of fatty acids and fatty acid derivatives, the LIPID MAPS Structure Database, using structure-based virtual screening to assess their ability to block the voltage-gated sodium channel 1.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of new antiseizure compounds derived from valproic acid.

New hybrid compounds were synthesized by linking the valproic acid (VPA) structure with other anticonvulsant/anti-inflammatory scaffolds. The chemistry involved the incorporation of the linker oxymethyl ester into VPA, followed by reaction with the second scaffold. The antiseizure effects were investigated by the maximal electroshock seizure test, and the most active compound was additionally evaluated in the 6 Hz test and pentylenetetrazol test in mice.

Protein repeats evolve and emerge in giant viruses.

Nucleocytoplasmatic large DNA viruses (NCLDVs or giant viruses) stand out because of their relatively large genomes encoding hundreds of proteins. These species give us an unprecedented opportunity to study the emergence and evolution of repeats in protein sequences. On the one hand, as viruses, these species have a restricted set of functions, which can help us better define the functional landscape of repeats.

Antiangiogenic activity of the penicillin derivative TAP7f in melanoma.

Previously , we demonstrated that the non-antibiotic penicillin derivative TAP7f inhibited melanoma metastasis in vitro and in vivo through the downregulation of β-catenin and integrin αVβ3. As angiogenesis is required for tumor growth and metastasis, we decided to explore the possible antiangiogenic effect of TAP7f. We found that TAP7f inhibited proliferation, migration, tube formation, and actin cytoskeleton organization of human endothelial cells.