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DELLA (GAI/RGA/RGL1/RGL2/RGL3) proteins are key negative regulators in GA (gibberellin) signaling and are involved in regulating plant growth as a response to environmental stresses. It has been shown that the DELLA protein PROCERA (PRO) in tomato promotes drought tolerance, but its molecular mechanism remains unknown. Here, we showed that the gai-1 (gibberellin insensitive 1) mutant (generated from the gai-1 (Ler) allele (with a 17 amino acid deletion within the DELLA domain of GAI) by backcrossing gai-1 (Ler) with Col-0 three times), the gain-of-function mutant of GAI (GA INSENSITIVE) in Arabidopsis, increases drought tolerance. The stomatal density of the gai-1 mutant was increased but its stomatal aperture was decreased under abscisic acid (ABA) treatment conditions, suggesting that the drought tolerance of the gai-1 mutant is a complex trait. We further tested the interactions between DELLA proteins and ABF2 (abscisic acid (ABA)-responsive element (ABRE)-binding transcription factors) and found that there was a strong interaction between DELLA proteins and ABF2. Our results provide new insight into DELLA proteins and their role in drought stress tolerance.

A focused SAR study was conducted on a series of N1-substituted pyrazolopyrimidinone PDE2 inhibitors to reveal compounds with excellent potency and selectivity. The series was derived from previously identified internal leads and designed to enhance steric interactions with key amino acids in the PDE2 binding pocket. Compound 26 was identified as a lead compound with excellent PDE2 selectivity and good physicochemical properties.

Efficient and applicable approach to macrolactonizations, with ready availability of starting materials and simple operation, remains a challenging task for the organic community. We developed a ‘freshman-can-do’ protocol to medium- and large-sized lactones, not depending on high-dilution or slow addition techniques. Application of this method for the synthesis of natural lactones or potentially pharmaceutical compounds might be useful for organic chemists and pharmacists.

Quinoline derivatives are important heterocyclic compounds because of their natural occurrence and applications in pharmaceutical fields. In this paper, a sequence of propargyl-allenyl isomerization and aza-electrocyclization for the synthesis of polyfunctionalized quinolines are described.

The synthesis of polysubstituted oxazolines is of great interest due to the synthetic and pharmaceutical importance. We developed a sequence of Pummerer/Michael reactions for the stereoselective synthesis of 5-(1-(arylthio)vinyl)-oxazolines.

The separation and purification of linoleic acid (LA) from sunflower seed oil by urea complex fractionation was studied. Crystallization reaction conditions of urea inclusion were optimized using the response surface method, and the optimal model was developed. Using the linear weighting method of the fitting model for optimization, the optimal balance between the purity and the recovery of LA was obtained. Under optimal conditions, the purity of LA was 87.8%, and the recovery was 83.4% at a urea-to-fatty acids ratio (w/w) of 0.94, 95% ethanol-to-urea (v/w) of 5.00, a crystallization temperature of 18.0 °C, and a crystallization time of 5.0 h. Verification results revealed that the predicted values from these models were reasonably close to the experimentally observed values.

Based on a putative binding mode of quizartinib (AC220, 1), a potent FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) inhibitor in Phase III clinical development, we have designed de novo a simpler aminopyridine-based hinge binding motif. Further optimization focusing on maximizing in vivo efficacy and minimizing CYP3A4 time-dependent inhibition resulted in a highly efficacious compound (6s) in tumor xenograft model for further preclinical development.

A thiazole derivative, 2-(2,6-dichlorobenzyl)-N-(4-isopropylphenyl) thiazole-4-carboxamide (1), was identified as a TRPV1 antagonist. We synthesized various thiazole analogs and evaluated them for their ability to block capsaicin- or acid-induced calcium influx in TRPV1-expressing CHO cells. The IC50 values of the most potent antagonists were ca. 0.050 μM in these assays.

The biological activity for a set of melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) agonists containing a piperazine core with an ortho-substituted aryl sulfonamide is described. Compounds from this set had binding and functional activities at MC4R less than 30 nM. The most selective compound in this series was >25,000-fold more potent at MC4R than MC3R, and 490-fold more potent at MC4R than MC5R. This compound also reduced food intake after oral dosing at 25, 50, and 100 mg kg−1 in fasted mice.

Novel αvβ3 antagonists based on the N-aryl-γ-lactam scaffold were prepared. SAR studies led to the identification of potent antagonists for αvβ3 receptor with excellent selectivity against the structurally related αIIbβ3 receptor. Additional interactions of N-aryl-γ-lactam derivatives with αvβ3 were found when compared to c(-RGDf[NMe]V-) peptide antagonist. The effects of the conformation and configuration of the γ-lactam core on the binding were also assessed.

The title method is advantageous with regards to simple operation and ready availability of starting materials.

Comparing breakthrough cures of five starch-based materials experimentally prepared for ethanol dehydration, a compound adsorptive agent ZSG-1 was formulated with high adsorption capacity, low energy and material cost. The selective water adsorption was conducted in a fixed-bed absorber packed with ZSG-1 to find the optimum conditions yielding 99.7 wt% anhydrous ethanol with high efficiency. The adsorption kinetics is well described by Bohart–Adams equation. The adsorption heat, Δ H abs , was calculated to be −3.16 × 10 4 J mol −1 from retention data by inverse gas chromatography. Results suggested that water entrapment in ZSG-1 is a exothermic and physisorption process. Also, ZSG-1 is recyclable for on-site multiple-use and then adapt for upstream fermentation process after saturation, avoiding pollution through disposal.

A glycosaminoglycan from sea cucumber Thelenata anana (THG) was isolated as a polymer of molecular weight of around 70 kDa. Its low molecular weight derivatives were first prepared by free radical depolymerization with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of copper(II) ion. The parameters of the process were investigated by a high-performance gel permeation chromatography. Analyses of chemical composition and molecular weight distribution indicated that the fragmentation of the main-chain of THG occurred randomly, obeyed pseudo first-order kinetics, and produced species with rather narrow and unimodal distribution of molar mass. The characterization of different molecular weight fractions was investigated by using viscometry and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Analysis of molecular weight and intrinsic viscosity in terms of the known theories for unperturbed wormlike cylinder yielded 1201 ± 110 nm −1 , 15.3 ± 1.5 nm, and 1.5 ± 0.3 nm for molar mass per unit contour length M L , persistence length q , and diameter d , respectively. The M L and d values were approximately consistent with those observed by AFM. The present data suggest that THG may dissolve in 0.1 M aqueous NaCl as single-stranded helical chains.

A novel class of pyrazolopyridazine p38α mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors is disclosed. A structure activity relationship (SAR) investigation was conducted driven by the ability of these compounds to inhibit the p38α enzyme, the secretion of TNFα in a LPS-challenged THP1 cell line and TNFα-induced production of IL-8 in the presence of 50% human whole blood (hWB). This study resulted in the discovery of several inhibitors with IC50 values in the single-digit nanomolar range in hWB. Further investigation of the pharmacokinetic profiles of these lead compounds led to the identification of three potent and orally bioavailable p38α inhibitors 2h, 2m, and 13h. Inhibitor 2m was found to be highly selective for p38α/β over a panel of 402 other kinases in Ambit screening, and was highly efficacious in vivo in the inhibition of TNFα production in LPS-stimulated Lewis rats with an ED50 of ca. 0.08 mg/kg.

A regio-specific synthesis of N-substituted imidazoles is described. Readily available α-amino acids are converted to α-aminocarbonyl derivatives and reacted with various isothiocyanates to give N-substituted cyclic thioureas. Oxidative or reductive desulfurization of the cyclic thioureas affords structurally diversified imidazoles in good to excellent yields.

A novel series of piperazines appended to a succinamide backbone were synthesized and found to have a high affinity for the melanocortin-4 receptor (IC(50)s ranging from