A Difluoromethylene Linchpin/Synthon: Application in Conjunction with Anion Relay Chemistry (ARC) Permits Ready Access to Diverse Difluoromethylene Scaffolds.

Organodifluorine synthons, in conjuction with three-component diastereoselective anion relay chemistry (ARC), permit ready access to diverse difluoromethylene scaffolds. Initiated via [1,2]-addition of an organolithium reagent to a β-difluoromethylene silyl aldehyde, an alkoxide intermediate is formed, which is capable of undergoing a [1,4]-Brook rearrangement to generate a stabilized α-difluoromethylene carbanion, which, upon electrophile capture, affords a three-component adduct. This three component synthetic tactic represents a novel one-pot divergent strategy for the construction of diverse organodifluorine containing compounds.

Prediction of polyproline II secondary structure propensity in proteins.

The polyproline II helix (PPIIH) is an extended protein left-handed secondary structure that usually but not necessarily involves prolines. Short PPIIHs are frequently, but not exclusively, found in disordered protein regions, where they may interact with peptide-binding domains. However, no readily usable software is available to predict this state.

Merging Asymmetric [1,2]-Additions of Lithium Acetylides to Carbonyls with Type II Anion Relay Chemistry.

An enantioselective three-component coupling reaction has been developed, enabling the union of a variety of lithium acetylides and electrophiles exploiting an achiral linchpin via an anionic reaction cascade. This Type II Anion Relay Chemistry tactic is initiated via an enantioselective [1,2]-carbonyl addition exploiting BINOL catalysis to access an enantioenriched alkoxide intermediate. Migration of charge across the linchpin via a [1,4]-Brook rearrangement with electrophile capture affords a three-component propargyl ether adduct.

Computational and experimental analysis of bioactive peptide linear motifs in the integrin adhesome.

Therapeutic modulation of protein interactions is challenging, but short linear motifs (SLiMs) represent potential targets. Focal adhesions play a central role in adhesion by linking cells to the extracellular matrix. Integrins are central to this process, and many other intracellular proteins are components of the integrin adhesome.

Design, Synthesis, and Application of Polymer-Supported Silicon-Transfer Agents for Cross-Coupling Reactions with Organolithium Reagents.

The initial design, synthesis, and validation of polymer-supported siloxane transfer agents have been achieved that permit the direct use of organolithium reagents in the palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. Through rational design, two generations of polymer support were developed that significantly simplify product purification and the transfer agent recycling.

Sex steroids regulate skin pigmentation through nonclassical membrane-bound receptors.

The association between pregnancy and altered cutaneous pigmentation has been documented for over two millennia, suggesting that sex hormones play a role in regulating epidermal melanocyte (MC) homeostasis. Here we show that physiologic estrogen (17β-estradiol) and progesterone reciprocally regulate melanin synthesis. This is intriguing given that we also show that normal primary human MCs lack classical estrogen or progesterone receptors (ER or PR).

SLiMScape 3.x: a Cytoscape 3 app for discovery of Short Linear Motifs in protein interaction networks.

Short linear motifs (SLiMs) are small protein sequence patterns that mediate a large number of critical protein-protein interactions, involved in processes such as complex formation, signal transduction, localisation and stabilisation. SLiMs show rapid evolutionary dynamics and are frequently the targets of molecular mimicry by pathogens. Identifying enriched sequence patterns due to convergent evolution in non-homologous proteins has proven to be a successful strategy for computational SLiM prediction.

Potent Irreversible Inhibitors of LasR Quorum Sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Antagonism of quorum sensing represents a promising new antivirulence approach for the treatment of bacterial infection. The development of a novel series of non-natural irreversible antagonists of P. aeruginosa LasR is described.

Potential of known and short prokaryotic protein motifs as a basis for novel peptide-based antibacterial therapeutics: a computational survey.

Short linear motifs (SLiMs) are functional stretches of protein sequence that are of crucial importance for numerous biological processes by mediating protein-protein interactions. These motifs often comprise peptides of less than 10 amino acids that modulate protein-protein interactions. While well-characterized in eukaryotic intracellular signaling, their role in prokaryotic signaling is less well-understood.