Innate immune factors modulate ethanol interaction with GABAergic transmission in mouse central amygdala.

Excessive ethanol drinking in rodent models may involve activation of the innate immune system, especially toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathways. We used intracellular recording of evoked GABAergic inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (eIPSPs) in central amygdala (CeA) neurons to examine the role of TLR4 activation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and deletion of its adapter protein CD14 in acute ethanol effects on the GABAergic system. Ethanol (44, 66 or 100mM) and LPS (25 and 50μg/ml) both augmented eIPSPs in CeA of wild type (WT) mice.

Exploratory experiments on the chemistry of the "glyoxylate scenario": formation of ketosugars from dihydroxyfumarate.

In the context of a "glyoxylate scenario" of primordial metabolism, the reactions of dihydroxyfumarate (DHF) with reactive small molecule aldehydes (e.g., glyoxylate, formaldehyde, glycolaldehyde, and glyceraldehyde) in water were investigated and shown to form dihydroxyacetone, tetrulose, and the two pentuloses, with almost quantitative conversion.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel pyrimidine derivatives as sub-micromolar affinity ligands of GalR2.

GalR1 and GalR2 represent unique pharmacological targets for treatment of seizures and epilepsy. A novel series of 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine derivatives were synthesized and found to have sub-micromolar affinity for GalR2. Optimization of a series of 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidines led to the discovery of several analogs with IC50 values ranging from 0.