Total synthesis of the hexasaccharide arabinan domain of mycobacterial arabinogalactan.

The hexasaccharide arabinan domain of Mycobacterial Arabinogalactan was provided with the versatile methodology toward β-selective arabinofuranosylation directed by B(CF), demonstrating the effectiveness of the β-arabinofuranosylation strategy. Derivatization of the amino moiety at the reducing end are essential prerequisites for elucidating the biosynthetic pathway and conjugating of this compound to a protein carrier for vaccine generation.

B(CF)-Catalyzed Stereoselective 1,2- Arabinofuranosylation with a Conformationally Constrained Donor.

Compared with stereoselective glycosylation methods mainly addressed on the preparation of pyranose glycosides, the furanosylation has been more limited, especially for the 1,2- arabinofuranosylation. Herein, we report a novel stereoselective 1,2--arabinofuranosylation strategy using a conformationally restricted 3,5--xylylene-protected arabinofuranosyl donor on activation with B(CF) for desired targets in moderate to excellent yields and β-stereoselectivity. The effectiveness of the 1,2--arabinofuranosylation strategy was demonstrated successfully with various acceptors, including carbohydrate alcohols.

Immunomodulatory Effect and Biological Significance of β-Glucans.

β-glucan, one of the homopolysaccharides composed of D-glucose, exists widely in cereals and microorganisms and possesses various biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-tumor properties. More recently, there has been mounting proof that β-glucan functions as a physiologically active "biological response modulator (BRM)", promoting dendritic cell maturation, cytokine secretion, and regulating adaptive immune responses-all of which are directly connected with β-glucan-regulated glucan receptors. This review focuses on the sources, structures, immune regulation, and receptor recognition mechanisms of β-glucan.

Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Chalcone Derivatives as Multifunctional Agents against Alzheimer's Disease.

Fifteen chalcone derivatives 3a-3o were synthesized, and evaluated as multifunctional agents against Alzheimer's disease. In vitro studies revealed that these compounds inhibited self-induced Aβ aggregation effectively ranged from 45.9-94.

miR-216a-5p inhibits malignant progression in small cell lung cancer: involvement of the Bcl-2 family proteins.

Objective: microRNAs are regulatory molecules regarded as important in the pathogenesis of different types of tumors. microRNA-216a (miR-216a-5p) has been identified as a tumor suppressor in multiple malignancies. However, the role of miR-216a-5p in the pathogenesis of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) remains obscure.