Intestinal bile acids directly modulate the structure and function of TcdB toxin.

Intestinal bile acids are known to modulate the germination and growth of Here we describe a role for intestinal bile acids in directly binding and neutralizing TcdB toxin, the primary determinant of disease. We show that individual primary and secondary bile acids reversibly bind and inhibit TcdB to varying degrees through a mechanism that requires the combined oligopeptide repeats region to which no function has previously been ascribed. We find that bile acids induce TcdB into a compact "balled up" conformation that is no longer able to bind cell surface receptors.

Signal Amplification for Imaging Mass Cytometry.

An enzyme-catalyzed reporter deposition stain has been developed for Imaging Mass Cytometry (IMC). The reagent consists of an alkaline phosphatase substrate tethered to a tellurophene which serves as reporter group for mass cytometry. Upon phosphate hydrolysis, a quinone methide is released which covalently labels local nucleophiles.

Active Ribosome Profiling with RiboLace.

Ribosome profiling, or Ribo-seq, is based on large-scale sequencing of RNA fragments protected from nuclease digestion by ribosomes. Thanks to its unique ability to provide positional information about ribosomes flowing along transcripts, this method can be used to shed light on mechanistic aspects of translation. However, current Ribo-seq approaches lack the ability to distinguish between fragments protected by either ribosomes in active translation or inactive ribosomes.

Disarming an Electrophilic Warhead: Retaining Potency in Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (TKI)-Resistant CML Lines While Circumventing Pharmacokinetic Liabilities.

Pharmacologic blockade of the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cell lines characterized by kinase-independent resistance was shown to re-sensitize CML cells to TKI therapy, suggesting that STAT3 inhibitors in combination with TKIs are an effective combinatorial therapeutic for the treatment of CML. Benzoic acid- and hydroxamic acid-based STAT3 inhibitors SH-4-054 and SH-5-007, developed previously in our laboratory, demonstrated promising activity against these resistant CML cell lines. However, pharmacokinetic studies in murine models (CD-1 mice) revealed that both SH-4-054 and SH-5-007 are susceptible to glutathione conjugation at the para position of the pentafluorophenyl group via nucleophilic aromatic substitution (SN Ar).

A tool for the selective sequestration of ATP and PPi to aid in-solution phosphopeptide detection assays.

The presence of small phospho-anions, such as PPi and ATP in protein samples often complicates the robust detection of phosphoproteins by metal-based chemosensors and receptors. We herein report the development of a bis(Zn(2+)-cyclen)-triethylbenzene scaffold which can selectively sequester PPi and ATP without affecting the detection of a di-phosphorylated peptide by a ProxyPhos chemosensor.

Access to Versatile β-Cyclodextrin Scaffolds through Guest-Mediated Monoacylation.

Herein, we report the selective mono-derivatization of heptakis[6-deoxy-6-(2-aminoethylsulfanyl)]-β-CD (1) through a guest-mediated covalent capture strategy. The use of guests functionalized with cleavable linkers enables the installation of an amine-orthogonal thiol group on the primary rim of 1 as a handle for further transformations to the β-CD scaffold. Applying this methodology, two novel monoderivatized β-CDs were obtained in good yield and high purity.

A STAT inhibitor patent review: progress since 2011.

Introduction: The clinical utility of effective direct STAT inhibitors, particularly STAT3 and STAT5, for treating cancer and other diseases is well studied and known.

Areas Covered: This review will highlight the STAT inhibitor patent literature from 2011 to 2015 inclusive. Emphasis will be placed on inhibitors of the STAT3, STAT5a/b, and STAT1 proteins for cancer treatment.

STAT3 pathway regulates lung-derived brain metastasis initiating cell capacity through miR-21 activation.

Brain metastases (BM) represent the most common tumor to affect the adult central nervous system. Despite the increasing incidence of BM, likely due to consistently improving treatment of primary cancers, BM remain severely understudied. In this study, we utilized patient-derived stem cell lines from lung-to-brain metastases to examine the regulatory role of STAT3 in brain metastasis initiating cells (BMICs).

Mono-acylation of a polyamine-β-cyclodextrin based on guest mediated acyl migration.

The S → N acylation rates of thioester functionalized coumarins on heptakis-[6-deoxy-6-(2-aminoethylsulfanyl)]-β-cyclodextrin were measured. A high yield of mono-acylation was achieved with products that form self-inclusion compounds. The differential fluorescence response of the functionalized cyclodextrins upon binding biomacromolecules shows the potential of the constructs as probes.

Pattern-based recognition of heparin contaminants by an array of self-assembling fluorescent receptors.

Tracking down potential killers: Strong host-guest interactions enable the facile combination of polycationic cyclodextrin binding motifs (blue) with fluorescent reporters (orange) tethered to a hydrophobic guest molecule (dark green). An array of supramolecular fluorescent receptors prepared by this modular approach was used for the pattern-based recognition of negatively charged contaminants in the anticoagulant drug heparin.

Efficient synthesis and protein conjugation of beta-(1-->6)-D-N-acetylglucosamine oligosaccharides from the polysaccharide intercellular adhesin.

A wide variety of medically important biofilm forming bacteria produce similar polysaccharide intracellular adhesins (PIAs). The PIA structures consist of partially de-N-acetylated beta-(1-->6)-N-acetylglucosamine polymers. These exopolysaccharides are key components of the bacterial biofilm matrix.

Remarkably stable inclusion complexes with heptakis-[6-deoxy-6-(2-aminoethylsulfanyl)]-beta-cyclodextrin.

Complexes of heptakis-[6-deoxy-6-(2-aminoethylsulfanyl)]-beta-cyclodextrin (1) and a series of common cyclodextrin guests were studied by NMR, fluorescence spectroscopy, and ITC experiments. NMR conformational analysis shows that the thioethers of 1 are positioned over the hydrophobic cavity of the cyclodextrin, increasing potential hydrophobic interactions with guest molecules. The combination of the increased hydrophobic character, the electrostatic complementarity and a hypothesized conformational change in 1 lead to a complex with the dye 2,6-ANS (5) that is over 2000 times more stable than with the native beta-cyclodextrin.

Paint solvent to food additive: an environmental route of dehalogenation for 4-chlorobenzotrifluoride.

In an effort to reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in paint solvents, replacements containing non-VOC compounds have been proposed. One such compound is 4-chlorobenzotrifluoride (CBTF), for which environmental fate studies have not been conducted. The objective of the present study was to determine the products of the atmospheric oxidation of CBTF and the aqueous fate of these products.