Insect venom is a highly complex mixture of bioactive compounds, containing proteins, peptides, and small molecules. Environmental factors can alter the venom composition and lead to intraspecific variation in its bioactivity properties. The investigation of discriminating compounds caused by variation impacts can be a key to manage sampling and explore the bioactive compounds.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe present study aimed to explore the potential antioxidant molecules of the Asian hornet venom (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) responsible for radical scavenging activity and human keratinocyte protection against oxidative stress. We developed a first technical platform that combined a DPPH radical scavenging chemical assay and cytotoxicity and ROS (reactive oxygen species) production in HaCaT keratinocyte cells exposed to UVB to evaluate the antioxidant property of V. velutina venom.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLactones are known to react with the reagent generated in situ from CCl4 and PPh3 in a Wittig-type fashion to give gem-dichloro-olefin derivatives. Such compounds are now shown to undergo reductive alkylation on treatment with organolithium reagents RLi to furnish acetylene derivatives bearing the substituent R at their termini (R=Me, n-, sec-, tert-alkyl, silyl); the reaction can be catalyzed with either Cu(acac)2 or Fe(acac)3 /1,2-diaminobenzene. Two alkynol derivatives prepared in this way from readily accessible lactone precursors served as the key building blocks for the total syntheses of the cytotoxic marine macrolides tulearin A (1) and C (2).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA highly efficient Pd-catalyzed P-C coupling reaction of easily accessible atropisomeric bisphosphane is described in the presence of various electron-poor aromatic iodides. The reactions are conducted in the presence of a Pd(II)/dppf catalyst in acetonitrile at 80 °C. The reaction conditions are compatible with several electron-withdrawing groups such as esters, cyano, chloro, and trifluoromethyl groups and lead to atropisomeric MeOBIPHEP derivatives in good to excellent yields and high enantiomeric purities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAn efficient Au(I) catalytic system is described for the hydroamination/cycloisomerization reaction of functionalized 1,6-enynes. The reaction leads to carbo- and heterocyclic amino derivatives in good to excellent yields. The cyclizations were conducted in the presence of PPh(3)AuCl/AgSbF(6) catalyst in THF or dioxane at room temperature.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNonviral gene delivery is limited to a large extent by the cationic nature of most of the chemical vector. We have shown that lipopolythioureas interact with DNA. However, lipopolythioureas were not very efficient at transfecting cells, probably due to reduced interaction between the noncationic synthetic lipid and the cell membrane.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF