Stemistry: the control of stem cells in situ using chemistry.

A new paradigm for drug research has emerged, namely the deliberate search for molecules able to selectively affect the proliferation, differentiation, and migration of adult stem cells within the tissues in which they exist. Recently, there has been significant interest in medicinal chemistry toward the discovery and design of low molecular weight molecules that affect stem cells and thus have novel therapeutic activity. We believe that a successful agent from such a discover program would have profound effects on the treatment of many long-term degenerative disorders.

Inhibition of the HIF1α-p300 interaction by quinone- and indandione-mediated ejection of structural Zn(II).

Protein-protein interactions between the hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) and the transcriptional coactivators p300/CBP are potential cancer targets due to their role in the hypoxic response. A natural product based screen led to the identification of indandione and benzoquinone derivatives that reduce the tight interaction between a HIF-1α fragment and the CH1 domain of p300. The indandione derivatives were shown to fragment to give ninhydrin, which was identified as the active species.

Structure-activity relationships and colorimetric properties of specific probes for the putative cancer biomarker human arylamine N-acetyltransferase 1.

A naphthoquinone inhibitor of human arylamine N-acetyltransferase 1 (hNAT1), a potential cancer biomarker and therapeutic target, has been reported which undergoes a distinctive concomitant color change from red to blue upon binding to the enzyme. Here we describe the use of in silico modeling alongside structure-activity relationship studies to advance the hit compound towards a potential probe to quantify hNAT1 levels in tissues. Derivatives with both a fifty-fold higher potency against hNAT1 and a two-fold greater absorption coefficient compared to the initial hit have been synthesized; these compounds retain specificity for hNAT1 and its murine homologue mNat2 over the isoenzyme hNAT2.

A novel color change mechanism for breast cancer biomarker detection: naphthoquinones as specific ligands of human arylamine N-acetyltransferase 1.

Human arylamine N-acetyltransferase 1 (hNAT1) has become an attractive potential biomarker for estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancers. We describe here the mechanism of action of a selective non-covalent colorimetric biosensor for the recognition of hNAT1 and its murine homologue, mNat2, over their respective isoenzymes, leading to new opportunities in diagnosis. On interaction with the enzyme, the naphthoquinone probe undergoes an instantaneous and striking visible color change from red to blue.

Piperidinols that show anti-tubercular activity as inhibitors of arylamine N-acetyltransferase: an essential enzyme for mycobacterial survival inside macrophages.

Latent M. tuberculosis infection presents one of the major obstacles in the global eradication of tuberculosis (TB). Cholesterol plays a critical role in the persistence of M.

Inhibition of the histone lysine demethylase JMJD2A by ejection of structural Zn(II).

JMJD2A, a 2-oxoglutarate dependent N(epsilon)-methyl lysine histone demethylase, is inhibited by disruption of its Zn-binding site by Zn-ejecting compounds including disulfiram and ebselen; this observation may enable the development of inhibitors selective for this subfamily of 2OG dependent oxygenases that do not rely on binding to the highly-conserved Fe(ii)-containing active site.

Total synthesis of the marine metabolite (-)-clavosolide D.

The first total synthesis of the marine natural product (-)-clavosolide D is described confirming the structure of the unsymmetrical 16-membered diolide glycosylated by permethylated d-xylose moieties. Following efficient assembly of the two tetrahydropyrans using stereoselective Prins cyclizations, the side chains were introduced via an allylation/isomerization/anti cyclopropanation sequence; the final macrolactonization step was achieved under Yamaguchi conditions.

Total synthesis of the marine natural product (-)-clavosolide A.

[Structure: see text] The total synthesis of the marine metabolite clavosolide A is reported which confirms the structure and absolute configuration of the natural product as the symmetrical diolide glycosylated by permethylated D-xylose moieties, 2.