Defining Target Engagement Required for Efficacy at the Retinoic Acid Receptor-Related Orphan Receptor C2 (RORγt).

The Th17 pathway has been implicated in autoimmune diseases. The retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor C2 (RORγt) is a master regulator of Th17 cells and controls the expression of IL-17A. RORγt is expressed primarily in IL-17A-producing lymphoid cells.

The Angiopoietin-Like Protein 3 and 8 Complex Interacts with Lipoprotein Lipase and Induces LPL Cleavage.

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is the key enzyme that hydrolyzes triglycerides from triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. Angiopoietin-like proteins (ANGPTL) 3, 4, and 8 are well-characterized protein inhibitors of LPL. ANGPTL8 forms a complex with ANGPTL3, and the complex is a potent endogenous inhibitor of LPL.

The chemical basis of serine palmitoyltransferase inhibition by myriocin.

Sphingolipids (SLs) are essential components of cellular membranes formed from the condensation of L-serine and a long-chain acyl thioester. This first step is catalyzed by the pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzyme serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) which is a promising therapeutic target. The fungal natural product myriocin is a potent inhibitor of SPT and is widely used to block SL biosynthesis despite a lack of a detailed understanding of its molecular mechanism.

The synthesis of azadirachtin: a potent insect antifeedant.

We describe in full the first synthesis of the potent insect antifeedant azadirachtin through a highly convergent approach. An O-alkylation reaction is used to unite decalin ketone and propargylic mesylate fragments, after which a Claisen rearrangement constructs the central C8-C14 bond in a stereoselective fashion. The allene which results from this sequence then enables a second critical carbon-carbon bond forming event whereby the [3.

Selection of heterocycles for drug design.

A method has been devised to obtain heterocyclic ring systems suitable for use in drug design and library design, with an emphasis on the selection of systems with good absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET) properties in man. This has been achieved by extraction of the ring systems found in drugs that have reached Phase II or later stages of drug development and launch. Properties have been calculated for these ring systems to enable them to be rationally selected from the database, including descriptors based on molecular size, shape, hydrogen bonding and orbital properties.

Chemistry of epoxysulfones: straightforward synthesis of versatile chiral building blocks.

[reaction: see text] Several chiral building blocks have been obtained easily in large quantities from an epoxysulfone (9) that could be obtained in both enantiomeric forms from accessible starting materials.

Stereocontrolled synthesis of cyclopropanol amino acids from allylic sulfones: conformationally restricted building blocks.

[reaction: see text] A new amino acid methyl ester with a cyclopropanol has been synthesized starting from the allyl sulfone 10. The starting material, 10, could be obtained in both enantiomeric forms. The stereoselectivity of the cyclopropane formation has been studied by molecular modeling.

Molecular binding interactions: their estimation and rationalization in QSARs in terms of theoretically derived parameters.

An extensive survey of molecular binding interactions and parameters used in QSARs is reported, which includes consideration of lipophilicity and the derivation of Linear Free Energy Relationships associated with drug-receptor binding, together with an overview of the various contributions to binding energy. The lipophilic parameter, log P, and its relevance to desolvation energy is outlined and explanation of the parameters derived from electronic structure calculation is provided, leading into a summary of molecular dynamics simulations.

Identification of a novel, selective GABA(A) alpha5 receptor inverse agonist which enhances cognition.

In pursuit of a GABA(A) alpha5-subtype-selective inverse agonist to enhance cognition, a series of 6,7-dihydro-2-benzothiophen-4(5H)-ones has been identified as a novel class of GABA(A) receptor ligands. These thiophenes have higher binding affinity for the GABA(A) alpha5 receptor subtype compared to the GABA(A) alpha1, alpha2, and alpha3 subtypes, and several analogues exhibit high GABA(A) alpha5 receptor inverse agonism. 6,6-Dimethyl-3-(2-hydroxyethyl)thio-1-(thiazol-2-yl)-6,7-dihydro-2-benzothiophen-4(5H)-one (43) has been identified as a full inverse agonist at the GABA(A) alpha5 receptor and is functionally selective over the other major GABA(A) receptor subtypes.

Molecular Binding Interactions: Their Estimation and Rationalization in QSARs in Terms of Theoretically Derived Parameters.

An extensive survey of molecular binding interactions and parameters used in QSARs is reported, which includes consideration of lipophilicity and the derivation of Linear Free Energy Relationships associated with drug-receptor binding, together with an overview of the various contributions to binding energy. The lipophilic parameter, log P, and its relevance to desolvation energy is outlined and explanation of the parameters derived from electronic structure calculation is provided, leading into a summary of molecular dynamics simulations.

6,7-Dihydro-2-benzothiophen-4(5H)-ones: a novel class of GABA-A alpha5 receptor inverse agonists.

Nonselective inverse agonists at the benzodiazepine binding site on the GABA-A chloride ion channel enhance cognitive performance in animals but cannot be used in the treatment of cognitive disorders because of anxiogenic and convulsant side effects. We have identified a novel series of GABA-A alpha5 receptor ligands during our search for alpha5 receptor inverse agonists as potential cognition enhancers. In particular, 6,6-dimethyl-3-(2-hydroxyethyl)thio-1-(thiazol-2-yl)-6,7-dihydro-2-benzothiophen-4(5H)-one (26) has been identified as a functionally selective GABA-A alpha5 inverse agonist.