Biofunctional Synthesis

A novel series of profluorescent rhodamine nitroxide conjugates are synthesized utilizing well‐known isonitrile‐based multicomponent reactions (IMCRs). The synthesized conjugates are rationally designed as mitochondria‐targeting probes for the detection of reactive oxygen species in living cells. Herein, the synthesized probes demonstrate high selectivity to target the mitochondria of both of PC3‐ and NIH3T3‐cells which represent cancer and normal cell lines. Attaching TEMPO nitroxide to rhodamine leads to fluorescence quenching, allowing for ROS detection and quantification. The prepared sensors provide a reliable method for distinguishing between different oxidative environments in living organisms through different levels of fluorescence to be measured. The use of the Ugi multicomponent reaction enables an efficient and versatile synthetic approach, offering significant advantages over previously reported methods for constructing ROS‐detecting probes. The simplicity of the reaction setup and the ability to generate a diverse library of products by varying Ugi components make this protocol highly adaptable for further chemical modification and potential applications in biological systems.

Formaldehyde emerges as a cornerstone in multicomponent reactions, mainly prized for its robust reactivity. Yet, alongside these beneficial traits, this highly reactive C1-building block raises concerns, primarily regarding its toxicity. One notable issue is the challenge of controlling the formation of undesired byproducts during its reactions. This review explores alternative C1-building blocks that serve as surrogates for formaldehyde, aiming to mitigate some of the challenges associated with its use in multicomponent reactions. By identifying these alternatives, toxicity concerns and improved reaction control can be addressed, paving the way for more efficient and sustainable synthetic methodologies.

The development of potent adjuvants is an important step for improving the performance of subunit vaccines. CD1d agonists, such as the prototypical α‐galactosyl ceramide (α‐GalCer), are of special interest due to their ability to activate iNKT cells and trigger rapid dendritic cell maturation and B‐cell activation. Herein, we introduce a novel derivatization hotspot at the α‐GalCer skeleton, namely the N‐substituent at the amide bond. The multicomponent diversification of this previously unexplored glycolipid chemotype space permitted the introduction of a variety of extra functionalities that can either potentiate the adjuvant properties or serve as handles for further conjugation to antigens toward the development of self‐adjuvanting vaccines. This strategy led to the discovery of compounds eliciting enhanced antigen‐specific T cell stimulation and a higher antibody response when delivered by either the parenteral or the mucosal route, as compared to a known potent CD1d agonist. Notably, various functionalized α‐GalCer analogues showed a more potent adjuvant effect after intranasal immunization than a PEGylated α‐GalCer analogue previously optimized for this purpose. Ultimately, this work could open multiple avenues of opportunity for the use of mucosal vaccines against microbial infections.

Various cyclic lipopeptides (CLPs, 23 compounds) were tested for their antitumor potential against human cervix adenocarcinoma HeLa cells. From the fast screening (tested concentrations: 0.01 and 10 μM) compound 10 ((12S,6S,10S,13S)-6-((R)-sec-butyl)-7-(2-(dodecylamino)-2-oxoethyl)-13-isopropyl- 82-nitro-2,5,12,15-tetraoxo-4,7,11,14-tetraaza-1(1,2)-pyrrolidina-8(1,4)-benzenacyclopentadecaphane- 10-carboxamide) was identified as active against HeLa cell line. The MTT 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and CV (crystal violet) assays revealed at least five times higher cytotoxic potential of 10 (IC50 = 12.3±1.8 μM, MTT; 9.4±1.5 μM; CV) in comparison to control drug natural occurring CLP surfactin (IC50 = 64.9±0.8 μM, MTT; 76.2±1.6 μM; CV). The cell cycle analysis performed by DAPI (4\',6-diamidino- 2-phenylindole) assay indicated the involvement of apoptosis in HeLa cell death upon treatment with 10, which was confirmed by apoptosis assay (annexin V/PI). Furthermore, during this process caspase activation could be detected (ApoStat assay, immunocytochemistry caspase-3 analysis). The flow cytometry analysis did not display induction of autophagy as a possible death mechanism in HeLa cells upon 10 treatment. The current findings could be used to design more effective CLPs based on 10 structure as potential anticancer agents.

Herein, this work reports an efficient acephate adsorption using chitosan (CS) incorporating varying amounts of magnetite. A co-precipitation methodology was employed for the functionalization of chitosan with iron nanoparticles, using Fe2+ as the sole iron source and with a low energy requirement. The adsorbents were characterized by FTIR, XRD, VSM, and nitrogen porosimetry techniques. The CS•Fe3O4 1:1 NPs showed the highest acephate removal percentage (74.96 %) at pH 9 and ambient temperatures. The adsorption process exhibited high dependencies on pH, adsorbent dosage, initial concentration of adsorbate, and ionic strength. Sips and pseudo-second-order kinetics models best adjusted the experimental data, suggesting that the process occurs on a heterogeneous surface. Thermodynamic evaluation showed that the adsorption was exothermic, favorable, and predominately through chemical interactions. Finally, the CS•Fe3O4 showed no significant decrease after several cycles of adsorption/desorption, avoiding centrifugation-filtration steps.

Macrocyclization of peptides is typically used to fix specific bioactive conformations and improve their pharmacological properties. Recently, macrobicyclic peptides have received special attention owing to their capacity to mimic protein structures or be key components of peptide-drug conjugates. Here, we describe the development of novel synthetic strategies for two distinctive types of peptide macrobicycles. A multicomponent macrocyclo-dimerization approach is introduced for the production of interconnected β-turns, allowing two macrocyclic rings to be formed and dimerized in one pot. Also, an on-resin double stapling strategy is described for the assembly of lactam-bridged macrobicycles with stable tertiary folds.

In this study, the characteristic growth of Cladobotryum virescens on nine culture media was analyzed. The growing behavior of this fungus was dependent on the culture medium. In vitro analysis showed that oat agar was better than other media tested with the highest conidia production. The antifungal activity against Fusarium chlamydosporum and Alternaria brassicicola was evaluated by the Dual Culture method. C. virescens displayed high activity against both pathogens acting through antibiosis and mycoparasitism. This effect was increased by a higher competitiveness of the strain for the substrate. Furthermore, the crude ethyl acetate extract of the culture broth was tested in vitro against Botrytis cinerea and Septoria tritici, as well as the hemibiotrophic oomycete Phytophthora infestans using a microtiter plate assay at different concentrations. The extract showed excellent inhibition even below 5 ppm. According to these results, we concluded that C. virescens can be considered as a potential biological control agent in agriculture. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate C. virescens as a biocontrol agent for different diseases caused by five relevant pathogens that affect cereals and vegetables.

Covering: 2009 to 2021Biosynthetically, most of the syntheses of triterpenes follow the cascade cyclization and rearrangement of the acyclic precursors viz., squalene (S) and 2,3-oxidosqualene (OS), which lead to the very well known tetra- and pentacyclic triterpene skeletons. Aside from these, numerous other triterpenoid molecules are also reported from various natural sources and their structures are derived from \"S\" and \"OS\" via some unusual cyclization operations which are different from the usual tetra- and pentacyclic frameworks. Numerous compelling advances have been made and reported in the identification of these unusual cyclized mono-, di-, tri- and tetracyclic triterpenes between 2009 and 2021. Besides a dramatic increase in the newly isolated uncommon cyclized triterpenoids, substantial progress in the (bio)-synthesis of these triterpenes has been published along with significant progress in their biological effects. In this review, 180 new unusual cyclized triterpenoids together with their demonstrated biogenetic pathways, syntheses and biological effects will be categorized and discussed.

Background: Human infectious diseases caused by bacteria are a worldwide health problem due to the increased resistance of these microorganisms to conventional antibiotics. For this reason, the identification of novel molecular targets and the discovery of new antibacterial compounds is urgently required. Metalo-aminopeptidases are promising targets in bacterial infections. They participate in crucial processes for bacterial growth and pathogenesis, such as protein and peptide degradation to supply amino acids, protein processing, access to host tissues, cysteine supply for redox control, transcriptional regulation, site-specific DNA recombination, and hydrogen sulfide production. Although several of these enzymes are not essential, they are required for virulence and maximal growth in conditions of nutrient limitation and high temperatures.Objective: In this review, we describe the structural, functional and kinetic properties of some examples of bacterial metalo-aminopeptidases, in the context of their use as antibacterial targets. In addition, we present some inhibitors reported for these enzymes.Conclusion: It is necessary a meticulous work to validate these peptidases as good/bad targets and to identify inhibitors with a potential therapeutic use.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder whose main pathological hallmark is the accumulation of Amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) in the form of senile plaques. Aβ can cause neurodegeneration and disrupt cognitive functions by several mechanisms, including oxidative stress. ERp57 is a protein disulfide isomerase involved in the cellular stress response and known to be present in the cerebrospinal fluid of normal individuals as a complex with Aβ peptides, suggesting that it may be a carrier protein which prevents aggregation of Aβ. Although several studies show ERp57 involvement in neurodegenerative diseases, no clear mechanism of action has been identified thus far. In this work we gain insights into the interaction of Aβwith ERp57, with a special focus on the contribution of ERp57 to the defence system of the cell. Here we show that recombinant ERp57 directly interacts with the Aβ25-35 fragment in vitro with high affinityvia two in silico-predicted main sites of interaction. Furthermore, we used human neuroblastoma cells to show that short-term Aβ25-35 treatment induces ERp57 decrease in intracellular protein levels, different intracellular localization and ERp57 secretion in the cultured medium. Finally, we demonstrate that recombinant ERp57 counteracts the toxic effects of Aβ25-35 and restores cellular viability, by preventing Aβ25-35 aggregation. Overall, the present study shows thatextracellular ERp57 can exert a protective effect from Aβ toxicity and highlights it as a possible therapeutic tool in the treatment of AD.