Rational Strategy for Designing Peptidomimetic Small Molecules Based on Cyclic Peptides Targeting Protein-Protein Interaction between CTLA-4 and B7-1.

Currently, various pharmaceutical modalities are being developed rapidly. Targeting protein-protein interactions (PPIs) is an important objective in such development. Cyclic peptides, because they have good specificity and activity, have been attracting much attention as an alternative to antibody drugs.

Visualized and Quantitative Conformational Analysis of Peptidomimetics.

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are fundamentally important and challenging drug targets. Peptidomimetic molecules of various types have been developed to modulate PPIs. A particularly promising drug discovery strategy, structural peptidomimetics, was designed based on special mimicking of side-chain C-C bonds.

Design and synthesis of piperazine derivatives as a novel class of γ-secretase modulators that selectively lower Aβ₄₂ production.

Novel piperazine derivatives as γ-secretase modulators (GSMs) were prepared and tested for their ability to selectively lower Aβ₄₂ production. Lead compound 3, with selective Aβ₄₂-lowering activity, was modified by replacing its imidazolylphenyl moiety with an oxazolylphenyl moiety. Optimization of the urea group significantly improved mouse microsomal stability, while retaining both activity and selectivity.

Design, synthesis, and biological activities of 1-aryl-1,4-diazepan-2-one derivatives as novel triple reuptake inhibitors.

A novel series of triple reuptake inhibitors were explored by ligand-based drug design. A cyclic structure was designed from cyclopropane derivative 5 using the core structure of reported monoamine reuptake inhibitors, leading to the formation of the 1-aryl-1,4-diazepan-2-one derivative 23j-S. Compound 23j-S was shown to act as a potent TRI with an excellent ADME-Tox profile.

C2-hydroxyglycosylation with glycal donors. Probing the mechanism of sulfonium-mediated oxygen transfer to glycal enol ethers.

The C2-hydroxyglycosylation reaction employing the reagent combination of a diaryl sulfoxide and triflic anhydride offers a novel method for glycal assembly whereby a hydroxyl functionality is stereoselectively installed at the C2-position of a glycal donor with concomitant glycosylation of a nucleophilic acceptor. Mechanistic investigations into this reaction revealed a novel process for sulfonium-mediated oxidation of glycal enol ethers in which the sulfoxide oxygen atom is stereoselectively transferred to the C2-position of the glycal. (18)O-labeling studies revealed that the S-to-C2 oxygen-transfer process involves initial formation of a C1[bond]O linkage followed by O-migration to C2, leading to the generation of an intermediate glycosyl 1,2-anhydropyranoside that serves as an in situ glycosylating agent.