COMP Improves Ang-II-Induced Atrial Fibrillation via TGF-β Signaling Pathway.

Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) regulates transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway, which has been proved to be associated with skin fibrosis and pulmonary fibrosis. Atrial fibrosis is a major factor of atrial fibrillation (AF). Nevertheless, the interaction between COMP and TGF-β as well as their role in AF remains undefined.

Post-Golgi trafficking of rice storage proteins requires the small GTPase Rab7 activation complex MON1-CCZ1.

Protein storage vacuoles (PSVs) are unique organelles that accumulate storage proteins in plant seeds. Although morphological evidence points to the existence of multiple PSV-trafficking pathways for storage protein targeting, the molecular mechanisms that regulate these processes remain mostly unknown. Here, we report the functional characterization of the rice (Oryza sativa) glutelin precursor accumulation7 (gpa7) mutant, which over-accumulates 57-kDa glutelin precursors in dry seeds.

Enantioselective Synthesis of 3-Substituted 3-Amino-2-oxindoles by Amination with Anilines.

A chiral N,N'-dioxide-nickel(II) complex-catalyzed asymmetric amination of 3-bromo-3-substituted oxindoles with anilines has been developed. A series of alkyl or aryl 3-amino-indolinones with quaternary stereocenters were obtained in high yields with excellent ee values in one step (up to 99 % yield, up to 96 % ee). The method provided a ready route to optically active intermediates of 3-amino-2-oxindole-based bioactive compounds.

Asymmetric Catalytic [2,3] Stevens and Sommelet-Hauser Rearrangements of α-Diazo Pyrazoleamides with Sulfides.

Catalytic enantioselective [2,3] Stevens and Sommelet-Hauser rearrangements of α-diazo pyrazoleamides with sulfides were achieved by utilizing chiral N,N'-dioxide/nickel( ) complex catalysts. These rearrangements proceeded well under mild reaction conditions, providing rapid and facile access to a series of functionalized 1,6-dicarbonyls or sulfane-substituted phenylacetates with high to excellent enantioselectivities. The catalytic system shows excellent stereocontrol, discriminating between the heterotopic lone pairs of sulfur and controlling both the 1,3-proton transfer and the [2,3]-σ rearrangement.

Secondary amines as coupling partners in direct catalytic asymmetric reductive amination.

The secondary amine participating asymmetric reductive amination remains an unsolved problem in organic synthesis. Here we show for the first time that secondary amines are capable of effectively serving as N-sources in direct asymmetric reductive amination to afford corresponding tertiary chiral amines with the help of a selected additive set under mild conditions (0-25 °C). The applied chiral phosphoramidite ligands are readily prepared from BINOL and easily modified.