Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Naphannop Sereesongsaeng, James F. Burrows, Christopher J. Scott, Klaudia Brix, Roberta E. Burden
Summary: Our study found that CTSV has an impact on breast cancer cell proliferation, with depleted CTSV cells showing delayed progression through the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Further investigation revealed that CTSV can regulate the expression levels of histones H3 and H4 in the nucleus by controlling the expression of their chaperone protein sNASP. We also discovered that CTSV is localized in the nuclear compartment of breast tumor cells and is required for cell cycle progression and histone stability.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lorenzo Cianni, Fernanda Dos Reis Rocho, Vinicius Bonatto, Felipe Cardoso Prado Martins, Jeronimo Lameira, Andrei Leitao, Carlos A. Montanari, Anwar Shamim
Summary: In this study, a new set of peptide-like nitrile-based cathepsin inhibitors were synthesized using a knowledge-based design approach. Three compounds showed nanomolar inhibition of CatB with selectivity over other cysteine proteases. Through a structure-based design, selective CatB inhibition was achieved, and successful bioisosteric replacement of the amide bond for a sulfonamide one was demonstrated.
BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eduardo Pereira de Souza, Milene Ferro, Vinicius Taioqui Pela, Thais Fernanda-Carlos, Cecilia Guimaraes Giannico Borges, Even Akemi Taira, Talita Mendes Oliveira Ventura, Ariel Domingo Arencibia, Marilia Afonso Rabelo Buzalaf, Flavio Henrique-Silva
Summary: Phytocystatins are protein inhibitors that play physiological and defensive roles in plants. In this study, the transcriptome of maqui plantlets was constructed using next-generation sequencing, and six cystatin sequences were identified. Five of them were successfully cloned and expressed, showing potential for treating human diseases. Additionally, MaquiCPI-3 was found to protect both dentin and enamel, suggesting its potential usage in dental products.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Peter Smyth, Jutharat Sasiwachirangkul, Rich Williams, Christopher J. Scott
Summary: This review provides an overview of the distinctive properties and roles of cathepsin S (CTSS) within the lysosomal cysteine cathepsin family. It highlights the various pathologies in which CTSS has been implicated and provides an update on the clinical progress towards specific inhibitors. CTSS is considered a significant biomarker and potential therapeutic target.
MOLECULAR ASPECTS OF MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Olja Mijanovic, Aleksandra Jakovleva, Ana Brankovic, Kristina Zdravkova, Milena Pualic, Tatiana A. Belozerskaya, Angelina Nikitkina, Alessandro Parodi, Andrey A. Zamyatnin
Summary: In this review, we summarized the molecular background, involvement in various diseases, and clinical significance for diagnosis and therapy of Cathepsin K (CatK).
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anastasiia I. Petushkova, Lyudmila V. Savvateeva, Andrey A. Zamyatnin
Summary: Papain-like cysteine proteases are widely expressed enzymes that regulate protein turnover in lysosomes. Recent discoveries have shown that these proteases also have specific functions in different organelles and extracellular environments. Human cysteine cathepsins are the most studied proteases in this family and are involved in both physiological and pathological processes. The specificity of each protease to its substrates is determined by the structure of the binding cleft and the amino acid motifs in this region.
COMPUTATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Fernanda R. Rocho, Vinicius Bonatto, Rafael F. Lameiro, Jeronimo Lameira, Andrei Leitao, Carlos A. Montanari
Summary: Cathepsin K (CatK) is a promising therapeutic target for diseases characterized by bone resorption, like osteoporosis. This review summarizes the patent literature on CatK inhibitors from 2011 to 2021 and their potential as new treatments for osteoporosis. The most explored inhibitors are nitrile-based inhibitors, and promising in vivo results have been disclosed. However, there is no approved drug targeting CatK yet.
EXPERT OPINION ON THERAPEUTIC PATENTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michal Busa, Zuzana Matouskova, Pavla Bartosova-Sojkova, Petr Pachl, Pavlina Rezacova, Ramon Marc Eichenberger, Peter Deplazes, Martin Horn, Sasa Stefanic, Michael Mares
Summary: Fasciolosis is a parasitic disease caused by the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica and has become an emerging human disease. The protein FhCyLS-2 from F. hepatica is a member of the cystatin superfamily and has characteristics of both intracellular stefins and secreted true cystatins. It acts as a broad specificity inhibitor of cysteine cathepsins, playing a dual role in the regulation of exogenous and endogenous proteolysis.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Itzel Berenice Rodriguez-Mera, Maria Maricela Carrasco-Yepez, Ismael Vasquez-Moctezuma, Jose Correa-Basurto, Gema Ramirez-Salinas, Diego Arturo Castillo-Ramirez, Erika Rosales-Cruz, Saul Rojas-Hernandez
Summary: This study evaluated the presence, expression, and role of cathepsin B from Naegleria fowleri. The results suggest that cathepsin B plays a role in the pathogenesis caused by N. fowleri, mainly in adhesion and contributing to nervous tissue damage.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Gilles Lalmanach, Mariana Kasabova-Arjomand, Fabien Lecaille, Ahlame Saidi
Summary: Cystatin M/E, a low molecular mass protein, exhibits both tumor-suppressing and tumor-promoting effects in various cancers. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms of Cystatin M/E and its expression and activity in tumorigenesis is crucial in maintaining proteolytic balance and addressing its imbalance in cancer.
Article
Oncology
Margarita E. Neganova, Sergey G. Klochkov, Yulia R. Aleksandrova, Gjumrakch Aliev
Summary: Epigenetic changes associated with histone modifications are important in the emergence and maintenance of various cancer types. Inhibitors of enzymes involved in these modifications are promising for anticancer drug development. This review explores the main features of common histone modifications and their role in malignant neoplasms, discussing strategies for inhibitor development and analyzing the use of multitarget drugs as the most promising strategy.
SEMINARS IN CANCER BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Usman Ahmed, Mehwish Manzoor, Sehrish Qureshi, Muzna Mazhar, Arj Fatima, Sana Aurangzeb, Mehwish Hamid, Khalid Mohammed Khan, Naveed Ahmed Khan, Yasmeen Rashid, Ayaz Anwar
Summary: In this study, ten synthetic Acridinone derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their anti-amoebic and cysticidal activities against A. castellanii and N. fowleri. The results showed that these derivatives exhibited potential therapeutic activity against both amoebae. Compound VII showed strong anti-amoebic activity against A. castellanii, while compound IX showed strong activity against N. fowleri.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Ruo Dan Liu, Xiang Yu Meng, Chen Le Li, Shao Rong Long, Jing Cui, Zhong Quan Wang
Summary: TsCatL is an important cysteine protease in Trichinella spiralis, involved in host-parasite interactions. It is expressed in larvae and adults, and localized in the stichosome, gut, and embryo. TsCatL demonstrates proteolytic activity, degrading various substrates including host-specific proteins.
VETERINARY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Hui Yang, Xiu-jiao Lin, Qiong Liu, Hao Yu
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of matrix metalloproteinase and cysteine cathepsin inhibitors on dentin erosion. The results showed that the use of these inhibitors significantly reduced substance loss and increased the thickness of the demineralized organic matrix.
CLINICAL ORAL INVESTIGATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alejandro Gomez-Auli, Larissa Elisabeth Hillebrand, Daniel Christen, Sira Carolin Guenther, Martin Lothar Biniossek, Christoph Peters, Oliver Schilling, Thomas Reinheckel
Summary: The study investigates cathepsin B-mediated secretome changes in breast cancer and highlights CREG1 as a key factor in the tumor microenvironment that can suppress malignant cell behavior.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Daan V. Bunt, Sahar El Aidy, Adriaan J. Minnaard
Summary: The meroterpenoids fornicin A, fornicin D, and ganodercin D found in mushrooms of the Ganoderma genus were synthesized through a concise and divergent route. The unsaturated gamma-ketoacid moiety was obtained via an optimized step-wise aldol condensation. Additionally, a protocol for THP-protection of a phenolic hydroxyl group under basic conditions was developed, adding to the versatility of this protecting group.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Cornelis H. M. van der Loo, Rutger Schim van der Loeff, Avelino Martin, Pilar Gomez-Sal, Mark L. G. Borst, Kees Pouwer, Adriaan J. J. Minnaard
Summary: Furans derived from carbohydrate feedstocks have been widely used to produce 7-oxanorbornenes through Diels-Alder reactions. However, due to their substitution patterns, these furans typically lead to racemates. In this study, we introduce an enantiopure glucosamine derived furan that selectively yields the exo-product with a high pi-face selectivity of 6.5:1. The structure of the product has been confirmed by X-ray crystallography, and a large-scale synthesis (2.8 g, 58% yield) demonstrates the easy accessibility of this multifunctional enantiopure building block.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Martin D. Witte, Sebastian B. Beil, Adriaan J. Minnaard, Marios Kidonakis, Augustin Villotet
Summary: Quinuclidine-mediated electrochemical oxidation provides a versatile and selective method for synthesizing C3-ketosaccharides with high yields, which is complementary to Pd-catalyzed or photochemical oxidation and different from the electrochemical oxidation of methylene and methine groups as it does not require oxygen.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Piermichele Kobauri, Frank J. Dekker, Wiktor Szymanski, Ben L. Feringa
Summary: Photopharmacology is an attractive approach for targeted drug action using light, where molecular photoswitches are introduced into biologically active small molecules for optical control. This review categorizes photopharmacological efforts based on medicinal chemistry strategies, focusing on diffusible photochromic ligands modified with E-Z bond isomerization photoswitches. Photoswitchable ligands are often designed as analogs of existing compounds using various approaches. Through analyzing instructive examples, the state of the art and future opportunities for rational design in photopharmacology are discussed.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nittert Marinus, Niek N. H. M. Eisink, Niels R. M. Reintjens, Renger S. Dijkstra, Remco W. A. Havenith, Adriaan J. Minnaard, Martin D. Witte
Summary: A predictive model is developed to determine the site-selectivity in the mono-oxidation of diols using palladium-neocuproine catalysis. The model considers factors such as electronegative substituents and configuration/conformational freedom to predict the reaction rate and site-selectivity. Experimental and computational studies have validated the model, which can be used for the synthesis of complex natural products.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Maryam Ahmadian-Moghaddam, Niels R. M. Reintjens, Martin D. D. Witte, Adriaan J. J. Minnaard
Summary: A reliable method for introducing a fused methylene tetrahydrofuran ring into carbohydrates is disclosed. The resulting bicyclic saccharides can serve as scaffolds in medicinal chemistry and drug design. Furthermore, the enol ether functionality allows for modification in biological systems via photoclick chemistry. The method involves the regioselective oxidation of the C-3 hydroxy group in gluco-configured pyranosides, followed by stereoselective indium-mediated allylation. The formation of the ring is induced by an iodocyclization reaction with a neighboring hydroxy group, and subsequent dehydrohalogenation produces the desired methylene-tetrahydrofuran-containing carbohydrates.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Thomas A. Verschut, Renny Ng, Nicolas P. Doubovetzky, Guillaume Le Calvez, Jan L. Sneep, Adriaan J. Minnaard, Chih-Ying Su, Mikael A. Carlsson, Bregje Wertheim, Jean-Christophe Billeter
Summary: Female fruit flies can assess the social information of their oviposition sites by detecting the concentration of pheromones left by previous visitors. They prefer sites with intermediate pheromone concentrations and avoid sites with low or high concentrations. This decision-making process is based on the detection of two different pheromones.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chunlong Zhao, Shipeng Chen, Deng Chen, Claudia Rio-Berge, Jianqiu Zhang, Petra E. Van Der Wouden, Toos Daemen, Frank J. Dekker
Summary: The HDAC3-directed PROTAC P7 has anti-inflammatory activity and blocks macrophage polarization, demonstrating that this molecular mechanism can be targeted with small molecule therapeutics.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chunlong Zhao, Deng Chen, Fengzhi Suo, Rita Setroikromo, Wim J. Quax, Frank J. Dekker
Summary: Aberrations in HDAC8 functions are closely linked to various diseases, and development of HDAC8 degradation inducers may be more promising than HDAC8 inhibitors. Using the PROTAC strategy, we developed a selective and potent HDAC8 degradation inducer CT-4 with single-digit nano-molar DC50 values and over 95% Dmax in both MDA-MB-231 cells and T-cell leukemia cells. CT-4 showed potent anti-migration activity and limited anti-proliferative activity in MDA-MB-231 cells, while effectively inducing apoptotic cell death in Jurkat cells. These findings suggest that the development of HDAC8 degradation inducers holds great potential for the treatment of HDAC8-related diseases.
BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shouxiong Huang, Adam Shahine, Tan-Yun Cheng, Yi-Ling Chen, Soo Weei Ng, Gautham R. Balaji, Rachel Farquhar, Stephanie Gras, Clare S. Hardman, John D. Altman, Nabil Tahiri, Adriaan J. Minnaard, Graham S. Ogg, Jacob A. Mayfield, Jamie Rossjohn, D. Branch Moody
Summary: The study identified the lipid profiles of four human CD1 antigen-presenting molecules, revealing a broad presentation of self-sphingolipids and phospholipids. Each type of CD1 protein displayed distinct capture motifs based on lipid length and chemical composition.
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Niels R. M. Reintjens, Imke M. A. Bartels, Nittert Marinus, Sarina C. Massmann, Daan V. Bunt, Marthe T. C. Walvoort, Martin D. Witte, Adriaan J. Minnaard
Summary: This study reports a simplified protocol for the selective oxidation of unprotected carbohydrates using a palladium catalyst. The reaction protocol offers a more convenient method with simplified steps and product isolation, and can be applied to a variety of sugar compounds.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shigenari Ishizuka, J. Hessel M. van Dijk, Tomomi Kawakita, Yuji Miyamoto, Yumi Maeda, Masamichi Goto, Guillaume Le Calvez, L. Melanie Groot, Martin D. Witte, Adriaan J. Minnaard, Gijsbert A. van der Marel, Manabu Ato, Masamichi Nagae, Jeroen D. C. Codee, Sho Yamasaki
Summary: Although leprosy is an ancient disease, the mechanism of pathogenicity of Mycobacterium leprae is not fully understood. In this study, the researchers identified phenolic glycolipid-III (PGL-III) as a specific ligand for the immune receptor Mincle. PGL-III was found to be a more potent ligand than trehalose dimycolate, a well-known ligand from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The study also revealed the unique recognition mode of Mincle and its interaction with multiple Mincle molecules. The findings suggest that PGL-III triggers protective immunity against M. leprae.
ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Niels R. M. Reintjens, Martin D. Witte, Adriaan J. Minnaard
Summary: Thioglycosides or S-linked-glycosides are important glycomimetics that can be synthesized by glycosylating deoxythio sugar acceptors. A carbonyl group formed by site-selective oxidation of unprotected saccharides can be converted into a thiol moiety, allowing for the preparation of deoxythio sugars through S(N)1 substitution reactions. The combination of these deoxythio sugars with protecting group-free glycosylation of glycosyl fluorides enables a protecting group-free synthesis of thioglycosides.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Melissa Bedard, Sanne van der Niet, Elliott M. Bernard, Gregory Babunovic, Tan-Yun Cheng, Beren Aylan, Anita E. Grootemaat, Sahadevan Raman, Laure Botella, Eri Ishikawa, Mary P. O'Sullivan, Jacob A. Mayfield, Seonadh O'Leary, Jeffrey Buter, Adriaan J. Minnaard, Sarah M. Fortune, Leon O. Murphy, Daniel S. Ory, Joseph Keane, Sho Yamasaki, Maximiliano G. Gutierrez, Nicole van der Wel, D. Branch Moody
Summary: Induction of lipid-laden foamy macrophages is a characteristic of tuberculosis (TB) and is caused by a terpenyl nucleoside shed from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This shed nucleoside, known as 1-tuberculosinyladenosine (1-TbAd), blocks lysosomal maturation and autophagy, leading to lipid storage in M1 macrophages. Furthermore, 1-TbAd induces the storage of specific lipids and promotes the growth of M. tuberculosis, as well as mimicking the lipid storage patterns found in lysosomal storage diseases such as Gaucher's disease and Wolman's disease.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Cornelis H. M. van der Loo, J. P. Kaniraj, Ting Wang, J. O. P. Broekman, Mark L. G. Borst, Kees Pouwer, Andre Heeres, Peter J. Deuss, Adriaan J. Minnaard
Summary: The study investigates the synthesis of nitrogen-containing aromatics through a Diels-Alder/aromatization cascade reaction using chitin-based furans. The results demonstrate that chitin-based 3-acetamido-furfural can be converted into di- and tri-substituted anilides with good to high yields via a hydrazone mediated reaction sequence.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Faiza Diaba, Gisela Trenchs
Summary: The first violet light-mediated synthesis of gamma- and delta-lactams from N-alkenyl trichloroacetamides is reported in this paper. The reactions are conducted in tetrahydrofuran or 2-methyltetrahydrofuran as the sole solvent without catalysts or additives, under non-anhydrous conditions in an air atmosphere where the solvent serves as the radical initiator.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Feroze Hussain, Sajjad Ahmed, Ashiq Hussain Padder, Qazi Naveed Ahmed
Summary: This study reports a novel and efficient one-pot synthesis method for mixed phosphorotrithioates, which does not require supplementary additives and shows broad applicability.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Hyunjin Oh, Ikyon Kim
Summary: A new 1,2,4-triazole-pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine hybrid system, 6-acylpyrrolo[1,2-a][1,2,4]triazolo[5,1-c]pyrazine, was synthesized using a catalyst-free method. This method involved sequential exposure of pyrrole-2-carbonitrile-derived substrates to DMF-DMA and acyl hydrazide, resulting in the formation of acylated pyrazine and 1,2,4-triazole rings, enabling the installation of various substituents at specific positions on the core skeleton.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Ming Yan, Si-fan Wang, Yong-po Zhang, Jin-zhong Zhao, Zhuo Tang, Guang-xun Li
Summary: Here we developed an efficient photocatalytic approach for the convenient preparation of sulfinamides. The reaction allows for the gram-scale preparation of sulfinamides and the one-pot synthesis of various sulfonyl amides.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Farzaneh Bandehali-Naeini, Zahra Tanbakouchian, Noushin Farajinia-Lehi, Nicolas Mayer, Morteza Shiri, Martin Breugst
Summary: Two tandem catalytic systems were developed for the synthesis of novel 3,4-disubstituted maleimides using the same Ugi adducts. Different maleimide structures can be synthesized using either Pd or Cu catalysis.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Tanya Raghava, Anjan Chattopadhyay, Subhadeep Banerjee, Nivedita Sarkar
Summary: Amine substitution of two ortho fluorine atoms of tetrafluoroterephthalonitrile through SNAr chemistry is easily achievable. But further fluorine substitution is only possible under forcing conditions, yielding valuable fluorophores for bioimaging.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2024)
Review
Chemistry, Organic
Anju Chadha, Santosh Kumar Padhi, Selvaraj Stella, Sowmyalakshmi Venkataraman, Thangavelu Saravanan
Summary: Alcohol dehydrogenases are enzymes that use cofactors for oxidation or reduction reactions of alcohols or carbonyl compounds. They are utilized in green chemistry and have applications in the production of pharmaceuticals. Recombinant enzymes have solved the challenge of producing purified enzymes in large quantities. Engineered alcohol dehydrogenases have been used in asymmetric synthesis in industry. Various methods have been established for regenerating expensive cofactors to make the enzymatic process more efficient and economically viable.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2024)