Publications by authors named "Huajian Zhu"

Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) hold immense promise for targeted protein degradation; however, challenges such as off-target effects, poor drug-likeness properties, and the "hook effect" remain. This study introduces Nano-Click-formed PROTACs (Nano-CLIPTACs) for precise tumor protein degradation in vivo. Traditional PROTACs with high molecular weight were first divided into two smaller druglike precursors capable of self-assembling to form functional PROTACs through a bioorthogonal reaction.

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Listeria monocytogenes is a critical foodborne pathogen known to develop adaptation traits in mildly acidic food processing environments. This study analyzed the genomic data of 49 strains derived from clinical and food sources, utilizing genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to explore the correlation between the genotypic and phenotypic traits of L. monocytogenes, thereby identifying the genetic determinants of its acid adaptation capability.

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A novel annulation reaction of amidines with sulfur ylides and nitrobenzenes has been developed, affording various novel 4-hydroxy-5-phenylaminoimidazoles in moderate to excellent yields. The 4-hydroxy-5-phenylaminoimidazoles have been further converted into α-ketoamide and imidazol-4-imine derivatives. Moreover, a plausible mechanism for this multicomponent reaction is proposed.

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A novel annulation reaction of prop-2-ynylsulfonium salts with sulfur ylides and nitrosobenzenes has been developed, affording various benzazepines in moderate to good yields. Prop-2-ynylsulfonium salts act as C synthons in the reactions, providing a promising benzazepine skeleton in a one-pot operation with readily accessible starting materials.

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Under hypoxic conditions, the accumulation of misfolded proteins primarily relies on the autonomous activity of 20S proteasome for degradation. The buildup of toxic proteins in cardiomyocyte contribute to various cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, enhancing the 20S proteasome degradation capacity and restoring protein homeostasis in myocardial cells with small molecule activators represent a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of ischemic cardiomyopathy.

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1,1,3-Polyfunctionalized cyclobutane derivatives have been synthesized from sulfur ylides and bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes (BCBs).

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The viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state occurs when bacteria lose their ability to grow and multiply on conventional media when stressed by adverse environmental factors, but they remain active and can revive under certain conditions, posing a food safety risk. In this study, the VBNC state of Listeria monocytogenes was induced with different temperatures combined with low nutrient conditions; the VBNC state of L. monocytogenes was confirmed in conjunction with the housekeeping gene abcZ using a molecular biology assay (PMA-qPCR) to calculate the viable bacterial count; The resuscitation conditions for the VBNC state of L.

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The types of obstacles encountered in the road environment are complex and diverse, and accurate and reliable detection of obstacles is the key to improving traffic safety. Traditional obstacle detection methods are limited by the type of samples and therefore cannot detect others comprehensively. Therefore, this paper proposes an obstacle detection method based on longitudinal active vision.

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Herein, a series of novel arylpiperazine (piperidine) derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for mechanisms of action through and studies. The most promising compound, (later named as ), is a potent α and 5-HT receptor antagonist with remarkable IC in the picomolar level. Importantly, in the assay, achieved an effective blood pressure (BP) reduction in the 2K2C rat model without damaging renal function.

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A one-pot approach has been developed for the synthesis of α-ketothioamide derivatives from sulfur ylides, nitrosobenzenes, and thioacetic acid. This protocol is carried out under mild reaction conditions in generally moderate to excellent yields without any precious catalysts, affording the derivatives with structural diversity. Additionally, a possible mechanism for this chemical transformation is proposed.

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Article Synopsis
  • Coumestans are important chemical structures found in various natural products, and creating derivatives can help in finding new medicinal compounds.
  • This research developed a scalable method to synthesize 8,9-dihydroxycoumestans using a specialized two-electrode electrolysis technique, protecting sensitive intermediates during the process.
  • A study on these compounds found that one derivative, compound 3 r, has strong antiproliferative effects and inhibits topoisomerase I, suggesting it could be a promising lead for new cancer treatments.
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Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are characterized by their inability to adopt well-defined tertiary structures under physiological conditions. Nonetheless, they often play pivotal roles in the progression of various diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and cardiovascular ailments. Owing to their inherent dynamism, conventional drug design approaches based on structural considerations encounter substantial challenges when applied to IDPs.

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Herein, a series of novel β-elemene hybrids with different types of hydrogen sulfide (HS) donors was designed and synthesized for the first time. In addition, all compounds were tested for HS release in phosphate buffer solution assay, among which the derivatives with 5--hydroxyphenyl-3-1,2-dithiole-3-thione (ADT-OH) as the HS donor released the best level. The results of the isolated vasodilation assay revealed that all the compounds exhibited a degree of vasodilatory effect, and the representative compound "β-elemene-HS gas donor" hybrid L13-2h produced more than 50% vasodilatory activity at a concentration of 20 μM.

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  • A study in Shanghai, China, found that 32.87% of ready-to-eat fruits and vegetables tested positive for a specific foodborne pathogen, indicating significant prevalence across different types.
  • Among the samples, many isolates showed resistance to common antibiotics such as trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole, oxacillin, and ampicillin, with a total of 15 antibiotic resistance genes identified.
  • Researchers discovered seven multi-locus sequence types, including two new types, and confirmed the existence of methicillin-resistant strains, suggesting serious implications for food safety and a potentially dangerous level of antibiotic resistance.
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  • The Keap1-Nrf2 pathway is important in protecting cells from oxidative stress and is being studied as a treatment target for neurodegenerative diseases.
  • Currently, the FDA has approved Nrf2 activators like dimethyl fumarate and Omaveloxolone for treating certain conditions, but options are still limited.
  • The review discusses the potential of using Keap1 inhibitors to improve treatment effectiveness by reducing off-target effects compared to traditional Nrf2 activators.
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  • Researchers designed and tested new dihydroquinolin-4(1H)-one compounds targeting the colchicine binding site on tubulin for their potential as anticancer agents.
  • The most effective compound, 6t, demonstrated strong antiproliferative effects on various cancer cell lines and inhibited tubulin polymerization, as well as inducing cell death and blocking cell cycle progression.
  • Compound 6t also showed promise in reducing cancer cell migration, invasion, and tumor growth in animal models, with minimal toxicity observed.
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The synthesis of 3-thioether-substituted dihydrofuro[2,3-]benzofurans involving the [3 + 2] coupling of sulfur ylides with 2-nitrobenzofurans has been realized in moderate to good yields under mild conditions without any precious catalysts or additives. It is worth mentioning that the reutilization of the departed nitro-anion in the reaction process facilitates this new chemical transformation and presents a manner of high atom economy to provide products with a complex structure.

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A group of 4-(1-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)pyrimidin-2-amine derivatives containing a hypoxia-activated nitroimidazole group were designed as EGFR inhibitors. Among this series, A14 was identified as the optimal compound, exhibiting potent anti-proliferative activities against H1975 and HCC827 cells. Under hypoxic condition, the anti-proliferative activities of A14 improved by 4-6-fold (IC < 10 nM), indicating its hypoxia-selectivity.

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Peptides have limitations as active pharmaceutical agents due to rapid hydrolysis by proteases and poor cell permeability. To overcome these limitations, a series of peptidyl proteasome inhibitors embedded with four-membered heterocycles were designed to enhance their metabolic stabilities. All synthesized compounds were screened for their inhibitory activities against human 20S proteasome, and 12 target compounds displayed potent efficacy with IC values lower than 20 nM.

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Article Synopsis
  • A new series of stilbene-based compounds were developed as dual inhibitors targeting tubulin and HDAC, with one compound, II-19k, showing strong anti-cancer properties in various cell lines.
  • II-19k demonstrated a very low IC value, indicating potent activity against hematological and solid tumors, and worked by disrupting microtubules, inhibiting HDACs, and inducing cell death while blocking cell cycle progression.
  • In animal tests, II-19k significantly reduced tumor size and weight by over 73% with minimal toxicity, highlighting its potential as an effective antitumor treatment for further research.
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Article Synopsis
  • - The proteasome plays a crucial role in regulating cellular functions and maintaining balance in biological systems, and it is particularly important in understanding diseases like neurodegenerative conditions, immune disorders, and various cancers, notably multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma.
  • - Current proteasome inhibitors work by binding to the proteasome's active site, using a competitive mechanism, but treatment complications like resistance lead to the need for alternative inhibitors.
  • - This review focuses on noncompetitive proteasome inhibitors, detailing how they work, their potential uses, and their pros and cons compared to traditional competitive inhibitors.
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To overcome or delay the drug-resistance of first-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase inhibitors and non-selectivity toxicity mediated by second-generation inhibitors, splicing principle was employed to design and synthesize a series of Osimertinib derivatives containing dihydroquinoxalinone (8-30) as the novel third-generation inhibitors against double mutant L858R/T790M in EGFR. Among them, compound 29 showed excellent kinase inhibitory activity against EGFR with an IC value of 0.55 ± 0.

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Novel type of Pd(II) complexes have been synthesized under operationally simple and convenient conditions and applied in the dynamic thermodynamic resolution of racemic ,-unprotected α-amino acids. After rapid hydrolysis, these Pd(II) complexes produced the corresponding α-amino acids in satisfactory yields and enantioselectivities, accompanied by the recyclable proline-derived ligand. In addition, the method can be readily applied for / interconversion to obtain unnatural ()-α-amino acids from readily available ()-α-amino acids.

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Microtubules, formed by α- and β-tubulin heterodimer, are considered as a major target to prevent the proliferation of tumor cells. Microtubule-targeted agents have become increasingly effective anticancer drugs. However, due to the relatively sophisticated chemical structure of taxane and vinblastine, their application has faced numerous obstacles.

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Hydrophobic tagging (HyT) is a potential therapeutic strategy for targeted protein degradation (TPD). Norbornene was discovered as an unprecedented hydrophobic tag in this study and was used to degrade the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion protein by linking it to ALK inhibitors. The most promising degrader, Hyt-9, potently reduced ALK levels through Hsp70 and the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) in vitro without compensatory upregulation of ALK.

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