Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Juan Xiong, Peng-Jun Zhou, Hao-Wen Jiang, Ting Huang, Yu-Hang He, Ze-Yu Zhao, Yi Zang, Yeun-Mun Choo, Xiaojuan Wang, Amar G. Chittiboyina, Pankaj Pandey, Mark T. Hamann, Jia Li, Jin-Feng Hu
Summary: Forrestiacids A and B are novel [4+2] pentaterpenoids derived from Pseudotsuga forrestii, exhibiting potent inhibitory activities against ATP-citrate lyase and potential for treating glycolipid metabolic disorders. Compound 1 also effectively attenuated de novo lipogenesis, providing a new chemical class for developing therapeutic agents for ACL-related diseases.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Bingyao Xu, Lan Bai, Lu Chen, Rongsheng Tong, Yibin Feng, Jianyou Shi
Summary: This review provides an overview of recent research on a range of terpenoid natural products associated with the PI3K/Akt pathway. It discusses their chemical structures, mechanisms of action, associated diseases, and experimental methods. The review highlights 16 natural terpenoids and their structure-activity relationships (SAR), suggesting their potential as natural neuroprotective agents.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Zhengcao Xiao, Liangliang He, Xiaohui Hou, Jianping Wei, Xiaoyu Ma, Zihan Gao, Yahong Yuan, Jianbo Xiao, Pengmin Li, Tianli Yue
Summary: Glycosylation decreased the antioxidant capacity and activity of flavonols, with 3-glycosylation having a more significant impact than 7-glycosylation. While glycosylation hindered antioxidant activity, it also inhibited dimer formation, contributing to the retention of free radical scavenging abilities by flavonol derivatives.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Joonrae Roger Kim, Jean-Rene Thelusmond, Vurtice C. Albright III, Yunzhou Chai
Summary: Research on the environmental biodegradation or microbial biodegradation of polymers has increased due to the demand for biodegradable polymers. The intrinsic biodegradability of a polymer depends on its chemical structure and physical properties. Empirical structure-activity relationships (SARs) for biodegradability of polymers in laboratory studies have been summarized. Polyolefins with carbon-carbon chains are not biodegradable, while polymers with labile bonds may favor biodegradation. Factors such as molecular weight, crosslinking, water solubility, degree of substitution, and crystallinity influence the biodegradability of polymers. Challenges in developing quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) for polymer biodegradability and the need for better characterization and consistent testing conditions are highlighted.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lukas Anton Wein, Klaus Wurst, Thomas Magauer
Summary: The study presented the construction of seven novel ent-trachylobane diterpenoids using a bioinspired synthetic strategy. Enantioselective and scalable access to five ent-trachylobanes was achieved in the first phase, with one compound produced on a 300 mg scale. Chemical C-H oxidation methods were then used in the second phase to selectively convert two higher functionalized ent-trachylobanes, revealing the potential and limitations of established protocols for complex molecule synthesis.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Julian M. Feilner, Immanuel Plangger, Klaus Wurst, Thomas Magauer
Summary: This study utilized highly functionalized bifunctional alkenes to achieve a polyene tetracyclization, leading to the total synthesis of the tricyclic diterpenoid pimara-15-en-3 alpha-8 alpha-diol. The versatile route also allowed for the preparation of a diverse library of cyclization precursors for the total synthesis of the tetracyclic nor-diterpenoid norflickinflimiod C, providing insights into complex pentacyclic products.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Mojdeh Dinarvand, Malcolm Spain
Summary: Marine natural products have been a valuable source for antimicrobial drug discovery, with novel compounds with antimicrobial properties isolated from marine extracts of sponges. The identified compounds, including tertiary amines and quaternary amine salts, showed potent in-vitro antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The structure-activity relationships of these compounds and commercially available structurally similar compounds suggest promising potential for antimicrobial drug development.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ali Amiri Naeini, Alexandre A. Ziegelmeier, William J. Chain
Summary: Icetexane diterpenoids are a diverse family of natural products sourced from terrestrial plants, exhibiting a broad array of biological activities. This review summarizes icetexane natural products isolated since 2009, provides an overview of new synthetic approaches and proposes a novel classification based on unique structures.
CHEMISTRY & BIODIVERSITY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sven M. Papidocha, Hendrik H. Bulthaupt, Erick M. Carreira
Summary: The first total synthesis of heavily oxidized cassane-type diterpenoids, neocaesalpin A, AA, and nominal neocaesalpin K, was achieved using a redox-flexible platform as a key intermediate. The synthesis involved an intermolecular Diels-Alder reaction and a novel late-stage oxidation method for furfuryl acetate.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Xia He, Ning Wang, Yu Zhang, Xiaobo Huang, Yi Wang
Summary: Pancreatic cancer is a highly malignant tumor with a poor prognosis and low survival rate. Despite surgical resection and chemotherapy being used as the first-line treatment, the overall survival rates are still low. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop alternative treatment strategies.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Natalia Pachura, Robert Kupczynski, Kamila Lewandowska, Maciej Wlodarczyk, Marta Klemens, Piotr Kuropka, Renata Nowaczyk, Malgorzata Krzystek-Korpacka, Iwona Bednarz-Misa, Tomasz Sozanski, Krystyna Pogoda-Sewerniak, Antoni Szumny
Summary: The standardized saponin and terpenoid fractions of Ilex aquifolium were found to have a significant impact on blood biochemical parameters in a rat model of metabolic disorder, including reducing liver adiposity and downregulating atherosclerotic stimuli.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yajing Guo, Anna Ma, Xinyan Wang, Chen Yang, Xi Chen, Gen Li, Feng Qiu
Summary: Viruses spread rapidly, infecting humans and causing fatal diseases. Development of new antiviral drugs is necessary due to limited efficacy against viral variants and drug resistance. Natural products, with their innovative structures and broad antiviral activities, show promise in this field. This review summarizes the progress of natural products in antiviral research over the past 2 decades and discusses the impact of different structural types on antiviral activity.
FRONTIERS IN CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xin Meng, Yiwu Pan, Tao Liu, Chen Luo, Shuli Man, Yongmin Zhang, Yan Zhang
Summary: Diosgenyl saponins, as the main active components of traditional Chinese medicine, have shown excellent toxicity to HCC cells. The synthesized diosgenyl saponin analogs exhibited varying cytotoxic activities on HepG2 cells, suggesting that the number and linkage mode of rhamnose moieties may influence their cytotoxicity.
CARBOHYDRATE RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
T. Rehka, Deepti Sharma, Fu Lin, Yeu Khai Choong, Chinchin Lim, Chacko Jobichen, Congqiang Zhang
Summary: The crystal structure of Agrocybe pediades linalool synthase (Ap.LS) was determined, revealing that its specificity is determined by the region of 60-69aa and Tyr299. Mutants of Ap.LS Y299 produced long-chain products. It was also found that microbial terpene synthases with asparagine at a specific position mainly produce cyclized products, while those with a bulky tyrosine produce linear products.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shaheera Tabassum, Ameer Fawad Zahoor, Sajjad Ahmad, Razia Noreen, Samreen Gul Khan, Hamad Ahmad
Summary: Cross-coupling reactions are powerful tools for synthesizing natural products, with Suzuki, Negishi, Heck, Sonogashira, and Stille reactions being commonly used in total synthesis. This review highlights the significance of these reactions in organic synthesis and provides examples of incorporating multiple types of cross-coupling reactions in the synthesis of natural products.
MOLECULAR DIVERSITY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francisca Parada, Jana Oklestkova, Patricio Arce-Johnson
Summary: This study identified key BR genes and determined their expression profiles in grapevines, providing insights into the presence and diversity of BRs in grape berries.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Kinga Kuczynska, Bartlomiej Bonczak, Lucie Rarova, Marie Kvasnicova, Miroslav Strnad, Zbigniew Pakulski, Piotr Cmoch, Marcin Fialkowski
Summary: New cytotoxic derivatives based on the lupane scaffold were synthesized and tested for their activity against cancer cell lines and normal fibroblasts. Some derivatives showed cytotoxic activity against cancer cells but were also toxic to normal cells. One compound exhibited selectivity towards tumor cells without affecting the growth of normal cells.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Anke Wilhelm, Susanna L. Bonnet, Linette Twigge, Lucie Rarova, Tereza Stenclova, Hendrik G. Visser, Marietjie Schutte-Smith
Summary: Four chalcones were synthesized and characterized, showing different interactions in their crystal structures. The in vitro cytotoxicity of these compounds against various cancer cell lines was evaluated, demonstrating potential anti-tumor activities.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yan Li, Lucie Rarova, Silvia Scarpato, Serhat Sezai Cicek, Monica Jordheim, Tereza Stenclova, Miroslav Strnad, Alfonso Mangoni, Christian Zidorn
Summary: Seasonal variations of phenolic compounds in Zostera marina L. from the Baltic Sea near Kiel/Germany were investigated, revealing two concentration peaks and two distinct flavonoid chemotypes. Additionally, a new tetrameric phenylpropanoid was discovered.
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Zbigniew Pakulski
Summary: A simple, fast, and efficient procedure for the extraction of highly purified friedelin and 3-hydroxyfriedel-3-en-2-one from black wax is presented in this study. Extraction of black wax with hexane or acetone resulted in a mixture of these two compounds. However, due to their similar Rf coefficients, especially on a large scale, chromatographic separation of 1 and 3 was difficult. Therefore, the conversion of 3-hydroxyfriedel-3-en-2-one to an acetyl derivative 4 was proposed, which allowed for rapid and efficient separation of the resulting mixture of 1 and 4 by selecting the appropriate eluent sequence.
JOURNAL OF WOOD CHEMISTRY AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aneta M. Tomkiel, Dorota Czajkowska-Szczykowska, Ewa Olchowik-Grabarek, Lucie Rarova, Szymon Sekowski, Jacek W. Morzycki
Summary: A chemoselective procedure was developed to oxidize 26-thiodiosgenin to sulfoxides and sulfones. Surprisingly, an unusual equilibration of sulfoxides was observed in solution. Additionally, the alpha-alkylation of sulfoxides and sulfones was investigated, followed by the examination of the biological activity of the obtained compounds.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jana Bibova, Veronika Kabrtova, Veronika Vecerova, Zuzana Kucerova, Martin Hudecek, Lenka Plackova, Ondrej Novak, Miroslav Strnad, Ondrej Plihal
Summary: Plasmodiophora brassicae is a pathogen that causes clubroot disease in cruciferous plants, leading to morphological changes and symptoms such as gall formation and leaf abscission. The homeostasis of cytokinin and auxin appears to be crucial for club development. Study on late-stage infected Arabidopsis thaliana showed changes in cytokinin levels and their role in disease progression.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jaroslav Nisler, Zuzana Kucerova, Radoslav Koprna, Roman Sobotka, Jana Slivkova, Stephen Rossall, Martina Spundova, Alexandra Husickova, Jan Pilny, Danuse Tarkowska, Ondrej Novak, Maria Skrabisova, Miroslav Strnad
Summary: Increasing crop productivity and mitigating yield losses under stressful conditions are major challenges in agriculture. A recently discovered compound, MTU, delays senescence and enhances the growth of wheat plants. Multiyear field trials demonstrate that treatment with MTU increases average grain yields of wheat and barley by 5-8%. This compound acts independently of cytokinins or other phytohormones and appears to be the only chemical known to affect the stability and activity of PSI.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Urte Sachleviciute, Gabriel Gonzalez, Marie Kvasnicova, Sarka Stepankova, Neringa Kleiziene, Aurimas Bieliauskas, Marek Zatloukal, Miroslav Strnad, Frank A. Slok, Miroslav Kvasnica, Algirdas Sackus, Asta Zukauskaite
Summary: A library of 3-aryl-3-azetidinyl acetic acid methyl ester derivatives was synthesized and evaluated for neuroprotective activity in salsolinol- and glutamate-induced neurodegeneration models. Compound 28 showed the highest neuroprotective effect, which may be driven by reductions in oxidative stress and caspase-3/7 activity.
ARCHIV DER PHARMAZIE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Strahinja Kovacevic, Milica Karadzic Banjac, Sanja Podunavac-Kuzmanovic, Jovana Ajdukovic, Benjamin Salakovic, Lucie Rarova, Milos Dordevic, Mirjana Ivanov
Summary: Malignant melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer, has limited treatment options, and medication therapy is one of them. This study focuses on the development of new compounds for malignant melanoma treatment. A series of newly synthesized alkylaminoethyl derivatives of androstane 3-oximes showed significant cytotoxic activity against malignant melanoma cells, providing a basis for the development of QSAR models for predicting the activity of not yet synthesized compounds.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vaclav Mik, Tomas Pospisil, Federica Brunoni, Jiri Gruz, Vladimfra Nozkova, Claus Wasternack, Otto Miersch, Miroslav Strnad, Kristyna Flokova, Ondrej Novak, Jitka Siroka
Summary: This research presents a highly sensitive method for the reliable determination of seven OPDA-aa compounds in plants. The method was optimized for extraction, sample clean-up, and final analysis. Five endogenous (+)-OPDA-aa were identified and their levels were estimated in mechanically wounded Arabidopsis thaliana leaves, with a peak observed 60 minutes after the wounding. The synthetic and analytical methodologies developed in this study will contribute to the understanding of the biological significance of these metabolites in plants.
Article
Plant Sciences
Gabriel Gomez-Ocampo, Carlos D. Crocco, Jimena Cascales, Jana Oklestkova, Danuse Tarkowska, Miroslav Strnad, Santiago Mora-Garcia, Jose L. Pruneda-Paz, Miguel A. Blazquez, Javier F. Botto
Summary: B-Box-containing zinc finger transcription factor BBX21 inhibits hypocotyl elongation in Arabidopsis through the brassinosteroid pathway. It reduces sensitivity to synthetic active brassinosteroid 24-epiBL at low concentrations in simulated shade and represses the biosynthesis and signaling genes of brassinosteroids. BBX21 integrates brassinosteroid homeostasis and shade-light signaling to fine-tune hypocotyl elongation in Arabidopsis.
PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Vladimir Skalicky, Ioanna Antoniadi, Ales Pencik, Ivo Chamrad, Rene Lenobel, Martin F. Kubes, Marek Zatloukal, Asta Zukauskaite, Miroslav Strnad, Karin Ljung, Ondrej Novak
Summary: Auxin and cytokinin show subcellular distribution in Arabidopsis cells, forming hormone gradients. This finding provides important insights into the mechanisms of plant growth and development.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andres Martin Bellido, Ayelen Mariana Distefano, Nicolas Setzes, Maria Milagros Cascallares, Jana Oklestkova, Ondrej Novak, Javier Alberto Ramirez, Eduardo J. Zabaleta, Diego F. Fiol, Gabriela C. Pagnussat
Summary: This study reveals the essential role of a plant mitochondrial steroidogenic pathway in female gametogenesis and early embryogenesis through a maternal effect. Exogenous hormone application can partially rescue the mutant phenotype.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
