Clionamines stimulate autophagy, inhibit Mycobacterium tuberculosis survival in macrophages, and target Pik1.

The pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) evades the innate immune system by interfering with autophagy and phagosomal maturation in macrophages, and, as a result, small molecule stimulation of autophagy represents a host-directed therapeutics (HDTs) approach for treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Here we show the marine natural product clionamines activate autophagy and inhibit Mtb survival in macrophages. A yeast chemical-genetics approach identified Pik1 as target protein of the clionamines.

Identification of a Novel Oleic Acid Analog with Protective Effects in Multiple Cellular Models of Friedreich Ataxia.

Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder for which there is no cure or approved treatment. It is characterized by the loss or impaired activity of frataxin protein, which is involved in the biogenesis of iron-sulfur clusters. Our previous studies suggested that cell death in FRDA may involve ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of cell death requiring lipid peroxidation.

An Effective Bifunctional Aldehyde Linchpin for Type II Anion Relay Chemistry: Development and Application to the Synthesis of a C16-C29 Fragment of Rhizopodin.

The design, synthesis, and validation of a new bifunctional aldehyde linchpin for Type II anion relay chemistry have been achieved. For this linchpin, the initial nucleophilic addition proceeds under Felkin-Anh control to generate the syn-alkoxide, which undergoes a 1,4-Brook rearrangement to relay the negative charge, thus leading to the formation of a dithiane-stabilized carbanion. Subsequent trapping with an electrophile furnishes a tricomponent adduct with an embedded propionate subunit, a ubiquitous structural motif found in polyketides.

Synthesis of clionamine B, an autophagy stimulating aminosteroid isolated from the sponge Cliona celata.

Clionamine B (2), an aminosteroid isolated from the marine sponge Cliona celata, has been synthesized starting from the plant sapogenin tigogenin (5). A key step in the synsthesis is the stereoselective introduction of the C-20 α-hydroxyl substituent via oxidation of a γ-lactone enolate with molecular oxygen. Synthetic clionamine B (2) strongly stimulated autophagy in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells.

The small molecule genkwanine M induces single mode, mesenchymal tumor cell motility.

Individual tumor cells utilize one of two modes of motility to invade the extracellular matrix, mesenchymal or amoeboid. We have determined that the diterpenoid genkwanine M (GENK) enhances the mesenchymal mode of cell motility that is intrinsic to HT-1080 osteosarcoma cells, stimulates a mesenchymal mode of motility in stationary MDA-MB-453 breast carcinoma cells, and induces a shift to a mesenchymal mode of cell motility in LS174T colorectal adenocarcinoma cells that normally utilize the alternate amoeboid mode of motility. The ability of GENK to stimulate or induce mesenchymal motility was preceded by a rapid cell spreading, elongation and polarization that did not require new gene expression.

A daphnane diterpenoid isolated from Wikstroemia polyantha induces an inflammatory response and modulates miRNA activity.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenously expressed single-stranded ~21-23 nucleotide RNAs that inhibit gene expression post-transcriptionally by binding imperfectly to elements usually within the 3'untranslated region (3'UTR) of mRNAs. Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) mediate site-specific cleavage by binding with perfect complementarity to RNA. Here, a cell-based miRNA reporter system was developed to screen for compounds from marine and plant extracts that inhibit miRNA or siRNA activity.

Nitazoxanide stimulates autophagy and inhibits mTORC1 signaling and intracellular proliferation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the world today. M. tuberculosis hijacks the phagosome-lysosome trafficking pathway to escape clearance from infected macrophages.

Structure-activity analysis of niclosamide reveals potential role for cytoplasmic pH in control of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling.

Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling is frequently dysregulated in cancer. Inhibition of mTORC1 is thus regarded as a promising strategy in the treatment of tumors with elevated mTORC1 activity. We have recently identified niclosamide (a Food and Drug Administration-approved antihelminthic drug) as an inhibitor of mTORC1 signaling.

Alotaketals A and B, sesterterpenoids from the marine sponge Hamigera species that activate the cAMP cell signaling pathway.

The new sesterterpenoids alotaketals A (1) and B (2) have been isolated from extracts of the marine sponge Hamigera sp. collected in Papua New Guinea. Their chemical structures were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data.