Structure based design and synthesis of novel Toll-like Receptor 2 (TLR 2) lipid antagonists.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play key role in innate immune response to Damage Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs) and Pathogen Associated Molecular Patterns (PAMPs). DAMP/PAMP-mediated activation of TLRs triggers NFκB signaling resulting in pro-inflammatory cytokine release. Using TLR2-Pam2CSK4 agonist co-crystal structure information, we designed and synthesized a novel series of Toll-like Receptor 2 (TLR2) lipid antagonists and identified compounds 14, 15 and 17 with sub-micromolar potency.

Neuroprotective effects of the anti-cancer drug sunitinib in models of HIV neurotoxicity suggests potential for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

Background And Purpose: Anti-retrovirals have improved and extended the life expectancy of patients with HIV. However, as this population ages, the prevalence of cognitive changes is increasing. Aberrant activation of kinases, such as receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5), play a role in the mechanisms of HIV neurotoxicity.

In vitro pharmacological characterization of RXFP3 allosterism: an example of probe dependency.

Recent findings suggest that the relaxin-3 neural network may represent a new ascending arousal pathway able to modulate a range of neural circuits including those affecting circadian rhythm and sleep/wake states, spatial and emotional memory, motivation and reward, the response to stress, and feeding and metabolism. Therefore, the relaxin-3 receptor (RXFP3) is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of various CNS diseases. Here we describe a novel selective RXFP3 receptor positive allosteric modulator (PAM), 3-[3,5-Bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)-1-[2-(5-methoxy-1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]urea (135PAM1).

Synthesis of a histamine H(3) receptor antagonist-manipulation of hydroxyproline stereochemistry, desymmetrization of homopiperazine, and nonextractive sodium triacetoxyborohydride reaction workup.

We have recently completed the synthesis of 1-[2-(4-cyclobutyl-[1,4]diazepane-1-carbonyl)-4-(3-fluoro-phenoxy)-pyrrolidin-1-yl]-ethanone, a hydroxyproline-based H(3) receptor antagonist, on 100 g scale. The synthesis proceeds through four steps and route selection was driven by a desire to minimize the cost-of-goods. Naturally occurring trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline was chosen as the precursor to the target's core, which necessitated an inversion at both stereogenic centers.

Novel substituted pyrrolidines are high affinity histamine H3 receptor antagonists.

Pre-clinical characterization of novel substituted pyrrolidines that are high affinity histamine H(3) receptor antagonists is described. These compounds efficiently penetrate the CNS and occupy the histamine H(3) receptor in rat brain following oral administration. One compound, (2S,4R)-1-[2-(4-cyclobutyl-[1,4]diazepane-1-carbonyl)-4-(3-fluoro-phenoxy)-pyrrolidin-1-yl]-ethanone, was extensively profiled and shows promise as a potential clinical candidate.

Exploration of structure-activity relationships for dual serotonin transporter reuptake inhibitors-histamine H3 receptor antagonists.

Depression is a major health issue, which is routinely treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. However, although these agents display a favorable effect on mood, they often fail to improve conditions that accompany depression including cognitive impairment and fatigue. In pre-clinical studies histamine H(3) receptor antagonists have demonstrated both pro-cognitive and wake-promoting effects suggesting that the combination of a histamine H(3) receptor antagonist and a serotonin reuptake inhibitor may have utility as an antidepressant therapy.

Histamine H3 antagonists as wake-promoting and pro-cognitive agents.

The histamine H3 receptor is a pre-synaptic auto- and hetero-receptor that controls the release of histamine and a variety of other neurotransmitters in the brain. As such, modulation of the histamine H(3) receptor is expected to affect wake via control of the release of histamine and to affect cognition via regulation of several other neurotransmitters including acetylcholine and norepinephrine. Over the last several years numerous pre-clinical studies have shown that histamine H3 antagonists promote wakefulness, improve cognition, and in some cases affect food intake.

Synthesis and biological activity of piperazine and diazepane amides that are histamine H3 antagonists and serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

The synthesis and biological activity of a new series of piperazine and diazepane amides is described. The new compounds are high affinity histamine H3 ligands and serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

Benzylamine histamine H(3) antagonists and serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

The design, synthesis, and in vitro activity of a series of novel 5-ethynyl-2-aryloxybenzylamine-based histamine H(3) ligands that are also serotonin reuptake transporters is described.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of diamine-based histamine H3 antagonists with serotonin reuptake inhibitor activity.

The synthesis and structure-activity relationships of a series of novel phenoxyphenyl diamine derivatives with affinity for both the histamine H(3) receptor and the serotonin transporter is described.

Novel tetrahydroisoquinolines are histamine H3 antagonists and serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

A series of novel 4-aryl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-based histamine H(3) ligands that also have serotonin reuptake transporter inhibitor activity is described. The synthesis, in vitro biological data, and select pharmacokinetic data for these novel compounds are discussed.

Identification of novel inhibitors of bacterial translation elongation factors.

Bacterial elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) and EF-Ts are interacting proteins involved in polypeptide chain elongation in protein biosynthesis. A novel scintillation proximity assay for the detection of inhibitors of EF-Tu and EF-Ts, as well as the interaction between them, was developed and used in a high-throughput screen of a chemical library. Several compounds from a variety of chemical series with inhibitory properties were identified, including certain indole dipeptides, benzimidazole amidines, 2-arylbenzimidazoles, N-substituted imidazoles, and N-substituted guanidines.

Chemistry and biology of biosynthetic Diels-Alder reactions.

Nature's repertoire of biosynthetic transformations has recently been recognized to include the Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction. Evidence now exists that there are enzymes that mediate the Diels-Alder reaction in secondary metabolic biosynthetic pathways. 2002 marked the 100th anniversary of Alder's birth and 75 years since the discovery of the Diels-Alder reaction.

Reverse versus Normal Prenyl Transferases in Paraherquamide Biosynthesis Exhibit Distinct Facial Selectivities.

Both a face-selective and a non-face-selective mode of formation of quaternary centers of isoprene-derived structural moieties of the natural alkaloid paraherquamide A (1) have been discovered by feeding experiments on Penicillium fellutanum with [U- C ]-glucose and [ C ]-acetate. The labeling patterns suggest that the methyl groups (C22, C23) are introduced in a non-face-selective manner by a reverse prenyl transferase. The C unit comprising the dioxepin moiety retains stereochemical integrity indicative of a single, face-selective addition of the phenolic group to the dimethylallyl group.