Metabolic Fitness of NAC1-Deficient Regulatory T Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment Fuels Tumor Growth.

The nucleus accumbens-associated protein-1 (NAC1) has recently emerged as a pivotal factor in oncogenesis by promoting glycolysis. Deletion of NAC1 in regulatory T cells (Tregs) has been shown to enhance FoxP3 stability, a suppressor of glycolysis. This study delves into the intriguing dual role of NAC1, uncovering that Tregs-specific deletion of NAC1 fosters metabolic fitness in Tregs, thereby promoting tumorigenesis.

Palladium-catalyzed α-arylation of sulfoxonium ylides with aryl fluorosulfates.

A variety of α-arylated sulfoxonium ylides could be facilely synthesized in modest to high yields through α-arylation of sulfoxonium ylides with aryl fluorosulfates C-O bond functionalization under palladium catalysis. Reactions using readily available and bench-stable aryl fluorosulfates as effective and appealing arylating agents showed both good substrate scope and broad functionality tolerance. Important functional groups such as nitro, cyano, formyl, acetyl, methoxycarbonyl, trifluoromethoxy, fluoro, and chloro embedded in substrates remained intact during the course of the reaction, and could be subjected to downstream modification.

NAC1 promotes stemness and regulates myeloid-derived cell status in triple-negative breast cancer.

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a particularly lethal breast cancer (BC) subtype driven by cancer stem cells (CSCs) and an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Our study reveals that nucleus accumbens associated protein 1 (NAC1), a member of the BTB/POZ gene family, plays a crucial role in TNBC by maintaining tumor stemness and influencing myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). High NAC1 expression correlates with worse TNBC prognosis.

Access to Piperazine-Fused Pyrrolocarbazoles Enabled by Acid-Catalyzed Stereoselective Hydroarylation of Ynamide-Indoles and Subsequent Diels-Alder Reactions/Aromatizations.

Pyrrolocarbazole skeletons are well known to possess a variety of biological activities that might be therapeutically useful in the treatment of cancers. Herein, an acid-catalyzed stereoselective hydroarylation/Diels-Alder cycloaddition/aromatization of ynamide-indoles is described. We newly designed and synthesized a variety of piperazine-fused pyrrolocarbazole derivatives that could be further applied to the synthesis of potent Wee1 inhibitors.

Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed Intramolecular Cyclization and Sequential Aromatization of Ynamides with Propargyl Esters: Access to 2,5-Dihydropyrroles and Pyrroles.

Disclosed herein is a rhodium(III)-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization of ynamides with propargyl esters. A variety of highly functionalized 2,5-dihydropyrroles were obtained in moderate to good yields with high / selectivities. Subsequent oxidation of the products gave valuable pyrrole derivatives.

Carbon monoxide-releasing Vehicle CO@TPyP-FeMOFs modulating macrophages phenotype in inflammatory wound healing.

Healing of chronic wounds has been critically limited by prolonged inflammation. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a biologically active molecule with high potential based on its efficacy in modulating inflammation, promoting wound healing and tissue remodeling. Strategies to use CO as a gaseous drug to chronic wounds have emerged, but controlling the sustained release of CO at the wound site remains a major challenge.

Marein, a novel natural product for restoring chemo-sensitivity to cancer cells through competitive inhibition of ABCG2 function.

The pivotal roles of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters in drug resistance have been widely appreciated. Here we report that marein, a natural product from Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt, is a potent chemo-sensitizer in drug resistant cancer cells overexpressing ABCG2 transporter. We demonstrate that marein can competitively inhibit efflux activity of ABCG2 protein and increase the intracellular accumulation of the chemotherapeutic drugs that belong to substrate of this transporter.

TMSOTf-Promoted Cyclization of Indole-2-methyl-α-aminoketones: Access to 4-Aryl-Substituted β-Carbolines.

An efficient method to construct 4-aryl-substituted β-carbolines from indole-2-methyl-α-aminoketones via a TMSOTf-promoted annulation reaction was reported. High yield along with wide substrate scope and functional group tolerance make this reaction applicable to build various highly potential bioactive β-carboline derivatives.

Iron-Mediated Reductive Amidation of Triazine Esters with Nitroarenes.

A reductive amidation of triazine esters with nitroarenes by using cheap iron as a reducing metal in the presence of TMSCl in DMF was developed. The reactions proceeded efficiently under transition metal-free conditions to give the corresponding amides in moderate to good yields with good functional group compatibility. Preliminary mechanistic investigations indicated that nitrosobenzene, -phenyl hydroxylamine, azoxybenzene, azobenzene, aniline, and -arylformamide possibly served as the intermediates of the reaction.

Design and Characterization of a Novel eEF2K Degrader with Potent Therapeutic Efficacy Against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Dysregulated eEF2K expression is implicated in the pathogenesis of many human cancers, including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), making it a plausible therapeutic target. However, specific eEF2K inhibitors with potent anti-cancer activity have not been available so far. Targeted protein degradation has emerged as a new strategy for drug discovery.

Cascade hydroarylation/Diels-Alder cycloaddition of alkynylindoles with electron-deficient alkynes and alkenes.

Herein, a novel cascade gold(I)-catalyzed hydroarylation of alkynylindoles and subsequent Diels-Alder cycloaddition with electron-deficient alkynes and alkenes is described. A variety of azepino-fused hydrocarbazoles and carbazoles were obtained in moderate to excellent yields. Key features of this methodology are low catalyst loadings, high regioselectivity, broad functional group tolerances, access to important heterocycles, and 100% atom economy.

Control of CD4 T cells to restrain inflammatory diseases via eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase.

CD4 T cells, particularly IL-17-secreting helper CD4 T cells, play a central role in the inflammatory processes underlying autoimmune disorders. Eukaryotic Elongation Factor 2 Kinase (eEF2K) is pivotal in CD8 T cells and has important implications in vascular dysfunction and inflammation-related diseases such as hypertension. However, its specific immunological role in CD4 T cell activities and related inflammatory diseases remains elusive.

Rhodium(III)-catalyzed intermolecular [3+3] annulation of benzoxazines with quinone compounds: access to spiro-heterocyclic scaffolds.

A rhodium(III)-catalyzed redox-neutral spiroannulation approach to access the spiro[benzo[][1,4]oxazine-benzo[]chromene skeleton is described in this contribution. A variety of spiro[5.5]-heterocyclic scaffolds were obtained in moderate to excellent yields under mild conditions.

Co-Targeting Nucleus Accumbens Associate 1 and NF-κB Signaling Synergistically Inhibits Melanoma Growth.

Nucleus-accumbens-associated protein-1 (NAC1) is a cancer-related transcriptional factor encoded by the gene, which is amplified and overexpressed in various human cancers and has been appreciated as one of the top potential cancer driver genes. NAC1 has therefore been explored as a potential therapeutic target for managing malignant tumors. Here, we show that NAC1 is a negative regulator of NF-κB signaling, and NAC1 depletion enhances the level of the nuclear NF-κB in human melanoma.

NAC1 confines virus-specific memory formation of CD4 T cells through the ROCK1-mediated pathway.

Nucleus accumbens-associated protein 1 (NAC1), a transcriptional cofactor, has been found to play important roles in regulating regulatory T cells, CD8 T cells, and antitumor immunity, but little is known about its effects on T-cell memory. In this study, we found that NAC1 expression restricts memory formation of CD4 T cells during viral infection. Analysis of CD4 T cells from wild-type (WT) and NAC1-deficient ( ) mice showed that NAC1 is essential for T-cell metabolism, including glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, and supports CD4 T-cell survival in vitro.

Palladium(II)-Catalyzed Intramolecular [2 + 2 + 2] Annulation of Indolyl 1,3-Diynes: Construction of Azepino-Fused Carbazoles.

A novel palladium(II)-catalyzed intramolecular [2 + 2 + 2] annulation of indolyl 1,3-diynes is described in this contribution. A variety of azepino-fused carbazoles are obtained in moderate to excellent yields. The key to the success of this transformation is the use of a carboxylic acid as an additive.

Role and clinical implication of autophagy in COVID-19.

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic constitutes a serious public health concern worldwide. Currently, more than 6 million deaths have occurred despite drastic containment measures, and this number is still increasing. Currently, no standard therapies for COVID-19 are available, which necessitates identifying effective preventive and therapeutic agents against COVID-19.

Identification of a NACC1-Regulated Gene Signature Implicated in the Features of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), characterized by a deficiency in estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor2 (HER2), is among the most lethal subtypes of breast cancer (BC). Nevertheless, the molecular determinants that contribute to its malignant phenotypes such as tumor heterogeneity and therapy resistance, remain elusive. In this study, we sought to identify the stemness-associated genes involved in TNBC progression.

Mechanistic insights of NAC1 nuclear export and its role in ovarian cancer resistance to docetaxel.

In this study, we uncovered the nuclear export of nucleus accumbens-associated protein-1 (NAC1) as a novel mechanism involved in ovarian cancer resistance to taxanes, the chemotherapeutic drugs commonly used in treatment of this malignancy. We showed that NAC1, a nuclear factor of the BTB/POZ gene family, has a nuclear export signal (NES) at the N terminus (aa 17-28), and this NES critically contributes to the NAC1 nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling when tumor cells were treated with docetaxel. Mechanistically, the nuclear-exported NAC1 bound to cullin3 (Cul3) and Cyclin B1 via its BTB and BOZ domains respectively, and the cyto-NAC1-Cul3 E3 ubiquitin ligase complex promotes the ubiquitination and degradation of Cyclin B1, thereby facilitating mitotic exit and leading to cellular resistance to docetaxel.

Expression of nucleus accumbens-1 in colon cancer negatively modulates antitumor immunity.

Background: Nucleus accumbens-1 (NAC-1) is highly expressed in a variety of tumors, including colon cancer, and is closely associated with tumor recurrence, metastasis, and invasion.

Aim: To determine whether and how NAC-1 affects antitumor immunity in colon cancer.

Methods: NAC-1-siRNA was transfected into RKO colon cancer cells to knock down NAC expression; tumor cells with or without knockdown of NAC-1 were treated with CD8 T cells to test their cytocidal effect.

Tumorous expression of NAC1 restrains antitumor immunity through the LDHA-mediated immune evasion.

Background: T cell-mediated antitumor immunity has a vital role in cancer prevention and treatment; however, the immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) constitutes a significant contributor to immune evasion that weakens antitumor immunity. Here, we explore the relationship between nucleus accumbens-associated protein-1 (NAC1), a nuclear factor of the BTB (broad-complex, Tramtrack, bric a brac)/POZ (Poxvirus, and Zinc finger) gene family, and the TME.

Methods: Adoptive cell transfer (ACT) of mouse or human tumor antigen (Ag)-specific CD8 cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) was tested in an immunocompetent or immunodeficient mouse model of melanoma with or without expression of NAC1.

Access to Azepino-Annulated Benzo[]carbazoles Enabled by Gold-Catalyzed Hydroarylation of Alkynylindoles and Subsequent Oxidative Cyclization.

Herein, we report a facile and efficient synthetic method to construct azepino[1,2-]indoles through a novel gold(I)-catalyzed intramolecular hydroarylation of alkynylindoles. A wide range of functional groups can be well tolerated in this transformation, and the corresponding highly functionalized azepino[1,2-]indole skeletons were obtained in moderate to excellent yields. Subsequent oxidation of the products gave the interesting and valuable polycyclic carbazoles, which were widely used as the key building blocks in materials science.