Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cassia Ferreira Rodrigues, Francisco Alves Santos, Leonardo Andrade Abreu Amorim, Andre Luis Coelho da Silva, Lana Grasiela Alves Marques, Bruno Anderson Matias Rocha
Summary: This review discusses recent technological advancements in targeting galectins for the treatment of cancer and using galectins for cancer prognosis and diagnosis. Results showed the importance of galectin-9 protein patents in furthering biomedical advancements in the global fight against cancer.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Alisa Koivuporras, Aaron Mailman, Hongshuang Guo, Arri Priimagi, Rakesh Puttreddy
Summary: This study evaluates the halogen bonding interactions between thiophene derivatives bearing monotopic and symmetric ditopic halogen substituents as well as asymmetric ditopic halogen and pyridine substituents with 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene and N-iodosuccinimide. X-ray crystallography studies reveal that these compounds can self-associate through halogen bonding and exhibit different interaction energies.
CRYSTAL GROWTH & DESIGN
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Burcu Topaloglu Aksoy, Burcu Dedeoglu, Yunus Zorlu, Mehmet Menaf Ayhan, Bunyemin Cosut
Summary: In this study, the researchers explored the efficiency of halogen center dot center dot center dot halogen interactions in controlling supramolecular assemblies of boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) derivatives. By systematically decorating BODIPY scaffolds with iodine groups, they were able to promote halogen center dot center dot center dot halogen interactions and form various supramolecular self-assemblies. Analysis showed that the major source for all halogen-bonded formations were the dispersion and electrostatic components.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hongshuang Guo, Rakesh Puttreddy, Turkka Salminen, Alons Lends, Kristaps Jaudzems, Hao Zeng, Arri Priimagi
Summary: The authors report a liquid crystalline network that contains dynamic halogen-bond crosslinks and possesses reversible thermo-responsive shape memory behavior. Shape programming can be achieved through human-hand operation, and a micro-robotic injection model is proposed to achieve complex shape morphing in aqueous media.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Steve Scheiner
Summary: The noncovalent interactions between halogen atoms on separate molecules can be categorized as Type I or II (T1 or T2). T2 is a standard halogen bond where the molecules are perpendicular to each other, while T1 has antiparallel molecules. Quantum calculations show that the T2 geometry is slightly more stable than T1 for FX pairs (X = Cl, Br, I). In mixed heterodimers FX1 center dot center dot center dot X2F, the heavier X atom prefers to be an electron acceptor. T1 conformation is held together by bent halogen bonds and positive cooperativity. The FX bond lengthens in the acidic subunit and shortens in the base, resulting in red and blue shifts in the FX stretching frequency. The NMR chemical shielding of X atoms increases upon complex formation, while the F atoms undergo smaller deshielding. These changes increase rapidly in the order Cl < Br < I.
CRYSTAL GROWTH & DESIGN
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Vinicius C. Port, Lucas A. Zeoly, Fernando Coelho, Rodrigo A. Cormanich
Summary: The study evaluates the participation of a fluorine atom in non-covalent interactions in different conformers, calculating the spin-spin coupling constant to determine the impact. The results suggest that the trans conformer plays a more significant role in the stabilization of conformer geometries.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Luciano Pirone, Ferran Nieto-Fabregat, Sonia Di Gaetano, Domenica Capasso, Rita Russo, Serena Traboni, Antonio Molinaro, Alfonso Iadonisi, Michele Saviano, Roberta Marchetti, Alba Silipo, Emilia Pedone
Summary: This study focuses on the interaction between galectins and new inhibitors, and utilizes a combination of experimental and computational methods to depict the structure of the 3D complexes and discuss the hotspots for designing better galectin inhibitors.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shovan Das, Ayan Datta
Summary: The packing of molecular crystals is primarily controlled by weak London dispersion forces, which bring the molecular units into proximity to stabilize the system. This paper demonstrates that the same effect can be induced by external pressure. The minimal pressure required to accurately describe the crystal structure without LD interactions serves as a quantifiable measure for the weak intermolecular interactions. LD forces are shown to be essential for an accurate description of pressure-induced phase transitions across various types of molecules.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sanobar Naaz, Pubali Das, Antonio Frontera, Basudeb Dutta, Samim Khan, Partha Pratim Ray, Mohammad Hedayetullah Mir
Summary: The structures and supramolecular interactions of two one-dimensional coordination polymers synthesized using 5-nitroisophthalic acid and 3-chloropyridine/3-bromopyridine auxiliary ligands were investigated. The polymers form a 1D double-chain structure with carboxylato-bridged cyclic secondary building units and exhibit halogen center dot center dot center dot halogen interactions and pi stacking interactions, leading to a three-dimensional supramolecular network. Additionally, they show X center dot center dot center dot N pi-hole interactions involving a nitro group as the electron acceptor. Both polymers display semiconducting electrical conductivity, with CP 1 showing higher conductivity than CP 2.
CRYSTAL GROWTH & DESIGN
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Vijayanath Elakkat, Eskedar Tessema, Chia-Her Lin, Xiaoping Wang, Huan-Cheng Chang, You-Ning Zheng, Yu-Cheng Huang, Zhong-Yun Gurumallappa, Zhong-Yun Zhang, Ka Long A. Chan, Hening A. S. Rahayu, Joseph S. Francisco, Norman Lu
Summary: To understand the effect of non-covalent weak interactions on molecules, we investigated different types of weak interactions in fluorinated chiral zinc complexes, including improper H-bonding, tetrel bonds, and halogen bonds. High resolution neutron diffraction studies revealed elongation and shortening of the methylene carbon-hydrogen bond due to tetrel bonds and improper H-bond interactions, respectively. We demonstrated how multiple weak interactions can cumulatively affect the C-H bond and offset its elongation through formation of an improper H-bond. Non-covalent interaction and electrostatic potential analysis investigations confirmed the nature of these interactions using density functional theory (DFT) and related calculations.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Crystallography
Anton Petrovich Novikov, Mikhail Alexandrovich Volkov, Alexey Vladimirovich Safonov, Mikhail Semenovich Grigoriev
Summary: This study successfully synthesized two new platinum and uranium compounds with nicotinic acid and determined their structures through single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Hirshfeld surface analysis revealed that hydrogen bonds were the main contributors to intermolecular interactions in all compounds.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lena Triestram, Fabio Falcioni, Paul L. A. Popelier
Summary: The interaction energies of nine XH center dot center dot center dot pi benzene-containing van der Waals complexes were analyzed using QTAIM multipolar electrostatics and the energy partitioning method IQA/IQF. This study provides a precise understanding of the nature of these interactions, which are important in biochemical systems. The formation of OH center dot center dot center dot pi and NH center dot center dot center dot pi systems is electrostatically driven, while the CH center dot center dot center dot pi interaction has a covalent character.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Rafael Santana Nunes, Diogo Vila-Vicosa, Paulo J. Costa
Summary: Halogen bonds (XBs) are noncovalent interactions in which halogen atoms act as electrophilic species interacting with Lewis bases. This type of interaction is relevant in biological membrane systems, influencing the pharmacological or toxicological activity of halogenated compounds. Molecular dynamics simulations provide evidence of the effects of XBs on ligands' membrane insertion profile and orientational preferences.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xiankai Jiang, Junjian Miao, Yi Gao
Summary: The spontaneous interconversion between covalent forces and noncovalent counterparts remains a mystery. This study discovered a transformation through halogen bonding using NI3 as a prototype and provided insights into the electronic structure basis and gradual transformation of this interconversion.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Masanori Nagao, Hikaru Matsumoto, Yoshiko Miura
Summary: Carbohydrates interact with corresponding lectins to participate in life activities. The binding between lectins and glycoconjugates on cell surfaces controls pathogen infection and cell activity regulation. Understanding the interactions of glycoconjugates has led to the development of therapeutic and preventive methods for infectious diseases. Glycopolymer, a class of materials containing multiple carbohydrates, allows for tuning of properties through molecular design. This review focuses on the design of glycopolymers over the past decade, aiming to develop inhibitors against pathogens and manipulators of cellular functions.
CHEMISTRY-AN ASIAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Felix Tobola, Martin Lepsik, Syeda Rehana Zia, Hakon Leffler, Ulf J. Nilsson, Ola Blixt, Anne Imberty, Birgit Wiltschi
Summary: This study introduced non-canonical tryptophan analogues into the ligand binding site of Galectin-1 and found two variants with reduced affinity for certain sugars. Through fluorescence polarization competition assay and molecular modeling, the researchers provided structural clues for the changes in affinity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lingbo Sun, Andriana Konstantinidi, Zilu Ye, Rebecca Nason, Yuecheng Zhang, Christian Bull, Barbro Kahl-Knutson, Lars Hansen, Hakon Leffler, Sergey Y. Vakhrushev, Zhang Yang, Henrik Clausen, Yoshiki Narimatsu
Summary: Researchers engineered sulfotransferase genes in HEK293 cells to achieve sulfation modification of O-glycans. They used this engineered cell library to study the binding specificity between galectin-4 and sulfated O-glycans.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dharma Pally, Mallar Banerjee, Shahid Hussain, Rekha Kumar, Alexandra Petersson, Ebba Rosendal, Ludvig Gunnarsson, Kristoffer Peterson, Hakon Leffler, Ulf J. Nilsson, Ramray Bhat
Summary: Aberrations in glycan and lectin expression and function contribute to the development of cancer. This study focused on Galectin-9, a member of the beta-galactoside-binding lectin family, and investigated its role in breast cancer cell invasiveness. The results showed a correlation between Galectin-9 expression and the ability of invasive cancer cells to adhere and invade extracellular matrix microenvironments. Further experiments revealed that Galectin-9 induced Focal Adhesion Kinase activity and S100A4 expression, which are associated with cancer cell invasion. The findings provide crucial insights into the mechanisms by which elevated Galectin-9 expression enhances breast cancer cell invasiveness during the early stages of invasion.
ACS CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Khuchtumur Bum-Erdene, Patrick M. Collins, Matthew W. Hugo, Somayeh S. Tarighat, Fei Fei, Chandan Kishor, Hakon Leffler, Ulf J. Nilsson, John Groffen, I. Darren Grice, Nora Heisterkamp, Helen Blanchard
Summary: In this study, novel Galectin-3 antagonists with enhanced affinity and selectivity were designed and synthesized. Experimental results demonstrated the specific inhibition of Galectin-3-induced BCP-ALL cell agglutination and decreased viability of ALL cells. Therefore, these compounds show promise as important leads for cancer therapeutics.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Abdulraouf Ramadan, Zhiyi Cao, Mujtaba Hassan, Fredrik Zetterberg, Ulf J. Nilsson, Mihaela Gadjeva, Vijay Rathinam, Noorjahan Panjwani
Summary: In this study, researchers found that galectin-8 (Gal-8), a carbohydrate-binding protein, plays an important role in regulating the innate immune response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis. Gal-8-/- mice were resistant to the infection, while mice deficient in other galectins were susceptible. The addition of exogenous Gal-8 suppressed the activation of the TLR4 pathway and improved bacterial killing capacity by neutrophils. Moreover, injecting a Gal-8 inhibitor reduced the severity of infection in a mouse model. These findings have implications for developing new therapeutic strategies for conditions resulting from an overactive immune response.
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Morten A. A. Nielsen, Ditte Koster, Akul Y. Y. Mehta, Kristian Stengaard-Pedersen, Pierre Busson, Peter Junker, Kim Horslev-Petersen, Merete Lund Hetland, Mikkel ostergaard, Malene Hvid, Hakon Leffler, Tue W. W. Kragstrup, Richard D. D. Cummings, Bent Deleuran
Summary: This study evaluated the clinical and pathogenic aspects of Gal-9 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and found that it plays a role in modulating synovial FLS activities and maintaining subclinical disease activity.
Article
Oncology
Vassilios Aslanis, Robert J. Slack, Alison C. MacKinnon, Catherine McClinton, Susan Tantawi, Lise Gravelle, Ulf J. Nilsson, Hakon Leffler, Ashley Brooks, Sanjeev K. Khindri, Richard P. Marshall, Anders Pedersen, Hans Schambye, Fredrik Zetterberg
Summary: GB1211 is an orally bioavailable galectin-3 inhibitor that plays a potential role in treating chronic inflammation, heart disease, and cancer. The study demonstrated that GB1211 is well tolerated, rapidly absorbed, and has favorable pharmacokinetics in healthy participants, supporting its further clinical development.
CANCER CHEMOTHERAPY AND PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Camille Lemaigre, Apolline Ceuppens, Cesar Augusto Valades-Cruz, Benjamin Ledoux, Bastien Vanbeneden, Mujtaba Hassan, Fredrik R. Zetterberg, Ulf J. Nilsson, Ludger Johannes, Christian Wunder, Henri-Francois Renard, Pierre Morsomme
Summary: This study investigates the endocytosis of L1CAM and its role in nervous system development, cancer development, and metastasis prognosis. It reveals that there are two isoforms of L1CAM that undergo endocytosis mediated by N-BAR and F-BAR domain proteins, as well as galectins. These findings are important for understanding the pathophysiological role of L1CAM.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Mukul Mahanti, Kumar Bhaskar Pal, Rohit Kumar, Markus Schulze, Hakon Leffler, Derek T. Logan, Ulf J. Nilsson
Summary: The sulfur oxidation state of galactoside ligands affects the thermodynamics and structure of their interactions with galectin-3.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Fredrik R. Zetterberg, Alison MacKinnon, Thomas Brimert, Lise Gravelle, Richard E. Johnsson, Barbro Kahl-Knutson, Hakon Leffler, Ulf J. Nilsson, Anders Pedersen, Kristoffer Peterson, James A. Roper, Hans Schambye, Robert J. Slack, Susan Tantawi
Summary: This study presents a series of selective galectin-3 inhibitors with high affinity and oral bioavailability. These compounds show antifibrotic activity in fibrosis-related diseases and one of them has been selected as a clinical candidate for further research.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Fredrik R. Zetterberg, Alison MacKinnon, Thomas Brimert, Lise Gravelle, Richard E. Johnsson, Barbro Kahl-Knutson, Hakon Leffler, Ulf J. Nilsson, Anders Pedersen, Kristoffer Peterson, James A. Roper, Hans Schambye, Robert J. Slack, Susan Tantawi
Summary: Galectin-3 is a crucial carbohydrate-binding protein involved in the regulation of various diseases. The discovery of GB0139, a high-affinity drug for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, has opened up new possibilities for treatment. By optimizing physical and chemical parameters, a series of highly selective galectin-3 inhibitors with both high affinity and oral bioavailability have been developed. These compounds have demonstrated anti-fibrotic activity in liver and lung fibrosis mouse models and show promising pharmacokinetic and safety profiles. GB1211 has been selected as a clinical candidate for liver cirrhosis and cancer, and phase IIa clinical trials are currently underway.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sjors van Klaveren, Jaka Dernovsek, Ziga Jakopin, Marko Anderluh, Hakon Leffler, Ulf J. Nilsson, Tihomir Tomasic
Summary: Galectins are proteins that can bind to galactosides and play a crucial role in drug discovery. The authors have designed a series of aromatic 3-triazolyl-1-thiogalactosides and evaluated their binding affinities with different Galectins.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tiago Bozzola, Ulf J. Nilsson, Ulf Ellervik
Summary: A direct one-step nucleophilic substitution method for the 4-OAc of acetyl protected Neu5Ac is presented. The method allows for a wider range of nitrogen nucleophiles, thiols, and cyanide to be used compared to previously published methods, which were limited to cyclic secondary amines. This investigation significantly expands the scope of 4-aminations and enables the introduction of a variety of nucleophiles.