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Most cancer cells are dependent on a network of deregulated signaling pathways for survival and are insensitive, or rapidly evolve resistance, to selective inhibitors aimed at a single target. For these reasons, drugs that target more than one protein (polypharmacology) can be clinically advantageous. The discovery of useful polypharmacology remains serendipitous and is challenging to characterize and validate. In this study, we developed a non-genetic strategy for the identification of pathways that drive cancer cell proliferation and represent exploitable signaling vulnerabilities. Our approach is based on using a multitargeted kinase inhibitor, SM1-71, as a tool compound to identify combinations of targets whose simultaneous inhibition elicits a potent cytotoxic effect. As a proof of concept, we applied this approach to a KRAS-dependent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line, H23-KRASG12C. Using a combination of phenotypic screens, signaling analyses, and kinase inhibitors, we found that dual inhibition of MEK1/2 and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R)/insulin receptor (INSR) is critical for blocking proliferation in cells. Our work supports the value of multitargeted tool compounds with well-validated polypharmacology and target space as tools to discover kinase dependences in cancer. We propose that the strategy described here is complementary to existing genetics-based approaches, generalizable to other systems, and enabling for future mechanistic and translational studies of polypharmacology in the context of signaling vulnerabilities in cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The σ/π-binding properties of a series of Lewis acids was studied using DFT calculations. The results led to the identification of Zn(II)/In(III) as a suitable dual-mode Lewis acid for use in promoting cascade cyclization reactions. Based on this finding, we developed three new types of dual-mode Lewis acid induced cascade cyclization reactions and have demonstrated the utilities of each process in natural product synthesis. 1 Introduction 2 Dual-Mode Lewis Acids 3 Prins/Conia-Ene Cascade Reaction and its Applications 4 Diels–Alder/Carbocyclization Cascade Reaction and Applications 4.1 First Generation Diels–Alder/Carbocyclization Cascade Reaction and its Application 4.2 Second Generation Diels–Alder/Carbocyclization Cascade Reaction and its Applications 5 Michael/Conia-Ene Cascade Reaction and its Applications 6 Conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

new synthetic method for the synthesis of benzothiazoles via PCl3 and DBU promoted cleavage/acylation/cyclization tandem reaction of disulfides and aromatic carboxylic acids has been developed. PCl3 acted as both an acylating reagent and a disulfide cleaving reagent, which promoted disulfides of 2-aminobenzenethiol to react with aromatic carboxylic acid to produce benzothiazole derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An enantioselective synthesis of the ABC-tricyclic furanochroman core of phomactin A has been accomplished by a γ-hydroxylation approach. The C ring was established by γ-hydroxylation of an a-enone. The regioselectivity was optimized by using a strong base with an oxophilic cation (t-BuLi) and a bulky oxygen donor (Davis reagent), which afforded the γ-hydroxylation product selectively in 63% yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A substrate-controlled asymmetric Prins/Conia-ene cascade cyclization has been developed with In(OTf)3 in CH3CN from 0 to 70 °C. These conditions afforded very good yields of the 1-oxadecalin product in one pot and effectively suppressed the racemization of the 1-oxadecalin product with almost no enantiomeric excess (ee) loss. This cascade cyclization has been successfully employed for the construction of the highly functionalized 1-oxadecalin unit of phomactin A with an acyclic β-keto ester and an alkynal as the substrates via a one-pot operation (66% yield, single diastereomer). The 1-oxadecalin moiety has been readily converted to the tricyclic furanochroman skeleton of phomactin A via the epoxidation/dealkoxycarbonylation protocol under very mild conditions with 5296 yield in three steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the first reversible, heat-set organogel based on the supramolecular interactions of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). The gel was prepared by interaction of diphenylamine (DPA) with β-CD and lithium chloride in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). In this gel system, DPA could be gelated in DMF as the temperature increased and then dissolved again as the temperature decreased. In the microscopic structure of gel, β-CDs play a key role in the formation of nanorods and microfibers. Some important features of the gel were observed. (1) The system is a multicomponent solution, in which each of the four components is required for the organogelation property. (2) The system is a reversible, thermo-responsive organogel composed of small organic molecules. When the temperature is lower than Tgel, the gel transforms back into a solution. The reversible thermo-transition was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The gel system is responsive to the concentration of LiCl. No gel was formed without LiCl. The stimuli responses of the system with other salts such as KCl and NaCl were weaker than with LiCl. (4) The system is responsive to the addition of guest molecules. The structures and sizes of the guest molecules could influence the gel formation. Generally, Tgeldecreased by adding guest molecules in the gel system, but some guest molecules, whose structures are exactly fitted to the cavity of CDs, could prevent gel formation. This work may provide new avenues in delivery of functional molecules as well as design of intelligent materials and biomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paracaspase MALT1 plays an essential role in activated B cell-like diffuse large B cell lymphoma (ABC DLBCL) downstream of B cell and TLR pathway genes mutated in these tumors. Although MALT1 is considered a compelling therapeutic target, the development of tractable and specific MALT1 protease inhibitors has thus far been elusive. Here, we developed a target engagement assay that provides a quantitative readout for specific MALT1-inhibitory effects in living cells. This enabled a structure-guided medicinal chemistry effort culminating in the discovery of pharmacologically tractable, irreversible substrate-mimetic compounds that bind the MALT1 active site. We confirmed that MALT1 targeting with compound 3 is effective at suppressing ABC DLBCL cells in vitro and in vivo. We show that a reduction in serum IL-10 levels exquisitely correlates with the drug pharmacokinetics and degree of MALT1 inhibition in vitro and in vivo and could constitute a useful pharmacodynamic biomarker to evaluate these compounds in clinical trials. Compound 3 revealed insights into the biology of MALT1 in ABC DLBCL, such as the role of MALT1 in driving JAK/STAT signaling and suppressing the type I IFN response and MHC class II expression, suggesting that MALT1 inhibition could prime lymphomas for immune recognition by cytotoxic immune cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A versatile and straightforward approach to the total synthesis of the dispirocyclic natural products aculeatins A, B, and D and 6-epi-aculeatin D was developed. The key steps involve a catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction using a titanium(IV) tetraisopropoxide/(S)-[1,1'-binaphthalene]-2,2'-diol system to form a C-2 hydroxy group, a hydroxydirected reduction, and a Weinreb ketone synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic study of the biomimetic pathways to yezo'otogirin C under aerobic and anaerobic conditions has been investigated, and both are found to be feasible pathways to the natural product depending on the physiological conditions. Because of the lower activation energy, the aerobic process would be more favorable when the in vivo oxygen level is high. In the course of this study, a highly efficient synthetic route to (±)-yezo'otogirin C has been established in four steps (31% overall yield) from a readily available compound without using any protecting groups. The natural product and its structural analogues exhibited antitumor activities against several human cancer cell lines and appeared to arrest cell cycles in different phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]