6-Aryl-quinazolines as novel GABA receptor positive allosteric modulators.

The systemic use of GABA orthosteric agonist baclofen might be limited due to its detrimental properties: sedation and motor impairment. In contrast, GABA positive allosteric modulators produce less adverse effects. Using BHF-177 as a starting point, we found a new active scaffold: the 6-aryl-quinazoline scaffold.

hERG Optimization of Benzofuro-Pyridine and Pyrazino-Indole Derivatives as MCHR1 Antagonists.

Obesity is a global epidemic associated with multiple severe diseases. Several pharmacotherapies have been investigated including the antagonists of melanin concentrating hormone receptor 1 (MCHR1). The design, synthesis, and biological studies of novel MCHR1 antagonists based on benzofuro-pyridine and pyrazino-indole scaffold was performed.

Med1 regulates meiotic progression during spermatogenesis in mice.

Spermatogenesis is a highly coordinated process. Signaling from nuclear hormone receptors, like those for retinoic acid (RA), is important for normal spermatogenesis. However, the mechanisms regulating these signals are poorly understood.

MIR146A inhibits JMJD3 expression and osteogenic differentiation in human mesenchymal stem cells.

Chromatin remodeling is important for cell differentiation. Histone methyltransferase EZH2 and histone demethylase JMJD3 (KDM6B) modulate levels of histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3). Interplay between the two modulators influence lineage specification in stem cells.

MicroRNA 146 (Mir146) modulates spermatogonial differentiation by retinoic acid in mice.

Impaired biogenesis of microRNAs disrupts spermatogenesis and leads to infertility in male mice. Spermatogonial differentiation is a key step in spermatogenesis, yet the mechanisms that control this event remain poorly defined. In this study, we discovered microRNA 146 (Mir146) to be highly regulated during spermatogonial differentiation, a process dependent on retinoic acid (RA) signaling.