Facile Preparation of a Thiol-Reactive (18)F-Labeling Agent and Synthesis of (18)F-DEG-VS-NT for PET Imaging of a Neurotensin Receptor-Positive Tumor.

Unlabelled: Accumulating evidence suggests that neurotensin receptors (NTRs) play key roles in cancer growth and survival. In this study, we developed a simple and efficient method to radiolabel neurotensin peptide with (18)F for NTR-targeted imaging.

Methods: The thiol-reactive reagent (18)F-(2-(2-(2-fluoroethoxy)ethoxy)ethylsulfonyl)ethane ((18)F-DEG-VS) was facilely prepared through 1-step radiofluorination.

Alkylation of cysteine 468 in Stat3 defines a novel site for therapeutic development.

Stat3 is a latent transcription factor that promotes cell survival and proliferation and is often constitutively active in multiple cancers. Inhibition of Stat3 signaling pathways suppresses cell survival signals and leads to apoptosis in cancer cells, suggesting direct inhibition of Stat3 function is a viable therapeutic approach. Herein, we identify a small molecule, C48, as a selective Stat3-family member inhibitor.

Synthesis and anticancer activities of ageladine A and structural analogs.

A series of ageladine A analogs that include 2-aminoimidazo[4,5-c]azepines (seven-membered rings) and 2-amino-3H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine (six-membered rings) derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their anticancer effects against several human cancer cell lines and MMP-2 inhibition in vitro. Only compounds possessing the aromatic azepine (seven-membered ring) core showed anticancer activity with IC(50) values in the low micromolar range.

A concise synthesis of spirotryprostatin A.

The preparation of two new synthons, 2,5- and 2,6-dibromotryptophan esters, and their use in diastereoselective intramolecular N-acyliminium ion spirocyclization methodology for the rapid construction of spirotryprostatin A and analogues are described.

Mitotic catastrophe constitutes a special case of apoptosis whose suppression entails aneuploidy.

A conflict in cell cycle progression or DNA damage can lead to mitotic catastrophe when the DNA structure checkpoints are inactivated, for instance when the checkpoint kinase Chk2 is inhibited. Here we show that in such conditions, cells die during the metaphase of the cell cycle, as a result of caspase activation and subsequent mitochondrial damage. Molecular ordering of these phenomena reveals that mitotic catastrophe occurs in a p53-independent manner and involves a primary activation of caspase-2, upstream of cytochrome c release, followed by caspase-3 activation and chromatin condensation.

The cell cycle checkpoint kinase Chk2 is a negative regulator of mitotic catastrophe.

Fusion between nonsynchronized cells leads to the formation of heterokarya which transiently activate Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1)/cyclin B1 and enter the prophase of the cell cycle, where they arrest due to a loss of Cdk1/cyclin B1 activity, activate p53, disorganize centrosomes, and undergo apoptosis. Here, we show that the down regulation of Cdk1/cyclin B is secondary to the activation of the DNA structure checkpoint kinase Chk2. Thus, syncytia generated by the fusion of asynchronous HeLa cells contain elevated levels of active Chk2 but not Chk1.

Preparation and synthetic applications of 2-halotryptamines: synthesis of elacomine and isoelacomine.

The preparation of 2-halotryptamines from tryptamine is described. New stereoselective intramolecular iminium ion spirocyclization methodology for the construction of spiro[pyrrolidine-3,3'-oxindoles] is outlined in synthetic studies of elacomine (1) and isoelacomine (2). [reaction: see text]

Synthesis of axinohydantoins.

A short synthesis of the hydantoin-containing marine sponge metabolites axinohydantoins is described. A key feature of the synthesis is a putative biomimetic, intramolecular cyclization of alpha-functionalized imidazolone 5, which affords the tricyclic pyrroloazepinone framework comprising 6. In addition, the conversion of imidazolones to alpha,beta-unsaturated hydantoins is outlined and represents a new approach to these heterocyclic systems.

Synthesis of marine sponge bisindole alkaloids dihydrohamacanthins.

[structure: see text] A convergent synthesis of the marine sponge bisindole alkaloids dihydrohamacanthins is described. The synthesis centers on the construction of 3,5- and 3,6-linked pyrazinones and their reduction to the requisite piperazinones with sodium cyanoborohydride.

Unusually Large (13)C NMR Chemical Shift Differences between Neutral and Protonated Glycocyamidines. New Insights on Previously Reported Chemical Shift Assignments and Chemical Properties.

Unusually large (13)C chemical shift differences are observed between neutral and protonated glycocyamidine (2-aminoimidazolinone) derivatives. Upon protonation, the guanidine (N-C=N) and carbonyl (C=O) carbons undergo an upfield shift of approximately 12 and 17 ppm, respectively, relative to the neutral species. For neutral glycocyamidine derivatives, the (13)C chemical shifts for the carbonyl carbon reside above 190 ppm.

Synthesis of C(11)N(5) Marine Sponge Alkaloids: (+/-)-Hymenin, Stevensine, Hymenialdisine, and Debromohymenialdisine.

The synthesis of C(11)N(5) marine sponge alkaloids (+/-)-hymenin (1), stevensine (2), hymenialdisine (3), and debromohymenialdisine (4) is described. These natural products are the primary family members of the sponge metabolites that contain a fused pyrrolo[2,3-c]azepin-8-one ring system with either a 2-aminoimidazole (AI) or glycocyamidine appendage. The key steps in the synthesis centered around the generation of novel azafulvenium ions and their regioselective heterodimerization with AI in order to create the tricyclic core.