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The adenosine A1 receptor (A1AR) is a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that provides important therapeutic opportunities for a number of conditions including congestive heart failure, tachycardia, and neuropathic pain. The development of A1AR-selective fluorescent ligands will enhance our understanding of the subcellular mechanisms underlying A1AR pharmacology facilitating the development of more efficacious and selective therapies. Herein, we report the design, synthesis, and application of a novel series of A1AR-selective fluorescent probes based on 8-functionalized bicyclo[2.2.2]octylxanthine and 3-functionalized 8-(adamant-1-yl) xanthine scaffolds. These fluorescent conjugates allowed quantification of kinetic and equilibrium ligand binding parameters using NanoBRET and visualization of specific receptor distribution patterns in living cells by confocal imaging and total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy. As such, the novel A1AR-selective fluorescent antagonists described herein can be applied in conjunction with a series of fluorescence-based techniques to foster understanding of A1AR molecular pharmacology and signaling in living cells.

Among class A G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR), the human adenosine A2A receptor (hA2AAR) remains an attractive drug target. However, translation of A2AAR ligands into the clinic has proved chall...

The adenosine A

To study the localisation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) in their native cellular environment requires their visualisation through fluorescent labelling. To overcome the requirement for genetic modification of the receptor or the limitations of dissociable fluorescent ligands, here we describe rational design of a compound that covalently and selectively labels a GPCR in living cells with a fluorescent moiety. We designed a fluorescent antagonist, in which the linker incorporated between pharmacophore (ZM241385) and fluorophore (sulfo-cyanine5) is able to facilitate covalent linking of the fluorophore to the adenosine A2A receptor. We pharmacologically and biochemically demonstrate irreversible fluorescent labelling without impeding access to the orthosteric binding site and demonstrate its use in endogenously expressing systems. This offers a non-invasive and selective approach to study function and localisation of native GPCRs., Stoddart et al. propose rational design of a covalent and selective ligand probe to fluorescently label GPCR in transiently transfected and endogenous systems. Using the adenosine A2A receptor as a model system, they show fluorescent labelling in an endogenous system, without impeding access to the orthosteric binding site. This study is useful to selectively and non-invasively study localisation and functions of GPCRs.

Here, we describe rational design of a compound that covalently and selectively labels a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) in living cells with a fluorescent moiety. Using wild-type adenosine A2A receptor as a model system, we show fluorescent labelling without impeding access to the orthosteric binding site and demonstrate its use in endogenously expressing systems. This offers a non-invasive and selective approach to study function and localisation of native GPCRs.

Among class A G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR), the human adenosine A

The human P2Y2 receptor (hP2Y2R) is a G-protein-coupled receptor that shows promise as a therapeutic target for many important conditions, including for antimetastatic cancer and more recently for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. As such, there is a need for new hP2Y2R antagonists and molecular probes to study this receptor. Herein, we report the development of a new series of non-nucleotide hP2Y2R antagonists, based on the known, non-nucleotide hP2Y2R antagonist AR-C118925 (1), leading to the discovery of a series of fluorescent ligands containing different linkers and fluorophores. One of these conjugates, 98, displayed micromolar affinity for hP2Y2R (pKd = 6.32 ± 0.10, n = 17) in a bioluminescence-energy-transfer (BRET) assay. Confocal microscopy with this ligand revealed displaceable membrane labeling of astrocytoma cells expressing untagged hP2Y2R. These properties make 98 one of the first tools for studying hP2Y2R distribution and organization.

The human P2Y

A new reactivity mode of lithium amides with epoxides leads to hindered enamines. The reaction of some of these enamines with unactivated primary and secondary alkyl halides is described, which expands the range of electrophiles that one can use in the synthesis of mono-alkylated aldehydes.

A new reactivity mode of hindered lithium amides with terminal epoxides is described whereby aldehyde enamines are produced via a previously unrecognized reaction pathway. Some of these aldehyde enamines display unprecedented C-alkylation reactivity toward unactivated primary and secondary alkyl halides. For comparison, the reactivity of aldehyde enamines synthesized via a traditional condensation method was examined. C- rather than N-alkylation was the dominant reaction pathway found with a range of electrophiles, making this route to alpha-alkylated aldehydes more synthetically useful than previously reported.

The conjugate addition of the phenyldimethylsilyl-cuprate reagent to cinnamate and crotonate esters and amides 1 of various known chiral auxiliaries, a–e, is diastereoselective. The sense of the diastereoselectivity of silyl-cuprate addition to the esters 1b–d, 8 and 9 is different from established precedent based on carbon-cuprates, but is normal for silyl-cuprate addition to the amide 1a, the imides 1e and 21, and the oxazolidine 6. The chiral auxiliary e gives the best results of those tested, and the silicon-containing group can be removed from the chiral auxiliary using alkoxide ion in aprotic media, making available β-silyl esters 27–29 of high enantiomeric excess, with recovery of the chiral auxiliary 30.

The homochiral pentadienylsilanes (3Z,5E)-(hepta-3,5-dien-2-yl)dimethyl(phenyl)silane 9, (3Z,5E)-(hepta-3,5-dien-2-yl)trimethylsilane 13, (4Z,6E)-(2-methylocta-4,6-dien-3-yl)dimethyl(phenyl)silane 14 and (4Z,6E)-(2-methylocata-4,6-dien-3-yl)trimethylsilane 17 undergo Lewis acid catalysed reactions with isobutyraldehyde and its dimethyl acetal stereospecifically anti with surprisingly high levels of stereoselectivity, ca. 90:10. The pentadienylsilanes (3Z)-hexa-3,5-dien-2-yldimethyl(phenyl)silane 20aa, (4Z)-(2-methylhepta-4,6-dien-3-yl)dimethyl(phenyl)silane 20ab, (3Z)-(hexa-3,5-dien-2-yl)-trimethylsilane 20ba and (2Z)-(1-phenylpenta-2,4-dienyl)trimethylsilane 20bc undergo dipolar cycloadditions to 2,2-dimethylpropanenitrile oxide regioselectively at the terminal double bond and stereoselectively anti to the silyl group to a somewhat lower extent, ca. 70:30. The pentadienylsilane (3Z,5E)-(6-cyclohexylhexa-3,5-dien-2-yl)trimethylsilane 25 undergoes deuteriodesilylation stereospecifically anti to a lower extent still, ca. 55:45. The pentadienylsilane (3Z,5E)-(8-methyl-8-methoxyethoxymethoxynona-3,5-dien-2-yl)trimethylsilane 34 undergoes an intramolecular reaction stereospecifically anti again to the extent of about 60:40, whereas the reaction of the corresponding allylsilane (3Z)-(6-methyl-6-methoxyethoxymethoxyhept-3-en-2-yl)trimethylsilane 32 is essentially completely anti. These results show that SE2″ reactions can be highly stereoselective in the anti sense, that the high level is probably best accounted for by the steric effect of the silyl group, and that when the steric effect is minimised, the stereospecificity is low, but still measurable. The pentadienylsilanes were prepared by aldol reactions between β-silyl esters and the appropriate α,β-unsaturated aldehyde, followed by decarboxylative elimination. The products of the SE2″ reactions were identified and their stereochemistry determined by comparison with authentic materials or by degradation and synthesis, using chiral auxiliaries to determine the enantiomeric purity. The products of two of the dipolar cycloadditions were identified by degradation and stereospecific vinylogous Peterson elimination, but the vinylogous Peterson elimination taking place with (1RS,2Z,4SR,6SR)-(4,6-dihydroxy-7,7-dimethyl-1-phenyloct-2-enyl)trimethylsilane 67bc and its (1SR) diastereoisomer 68bc was not stereospecific, giving (5E,7E)-2,2-dimethyl-8-phenylocta-5,7-dien-3-ol 73 from both isomers. The stereochemistries of all the reactions are summarised.

A new reactivity mode of hindered lithium amides with terminal epoxides is described whereby aldehyde enamines are produced via a previously unrecognized reaction pathway. Some of these aldehyde enamines display unprecedented C-alkylation reactivity toward unactivated primary and secondary alkyl halides. For comparison, the reactivity of aldehyde enamines synthesized via a traditional condensation method was examined. C- rather than N-alkylation was the dominant reaction pathway found with a range of electrophiles, making this route to α-alkylated aldehydes more synthetically useful than previously reported.

[reaction: see text] Reaction of hindered lithium amides with readily available (enantiopure) terminal epoxides gives 2-ene-1,4-diols via carbenoid dimerization of the corresponding alpha-lithiated epoxides. D-Mannitol and D-iditol were synthesized using this method in three steps from (S)-tritylglycidyl ether.

In vitro synthesis of the iron-molybdenum cofactor (FeMo-co) of dinitrogenase using homocitrate and its analogs allows the formation of modified forms of FeMo-co that show altered substrate specificities (N2, acetylene, cyanide, or proton reduction) of nitrogenase [reduced ferredoxin:dinitrogen oxidoreductase (ATP-hydrolyzing), EC 1.18.6.1]. The (1R,2S)-threo- and (1S,2S)-erythro-fluorinated diastereomers of homocitrate have been incorporated in vitro into dinitrogenase in place of homocitrate. Dinitrogenase activated with FeMo-co synthesized using threo-fluorohomocitrate reduces protons, cyanide, and acetylene but cannot reduce N2. In addition, proton reduction is inhibited by carbon monoxide (CO), a characteristic of dinitrogenase from NifV- mutants. Dinitrogenase activated with FeMo-co synthesized using erythro-fluorohomocitrate reduces protons, cyanide, acetylene, and N2. In this case proton reduction is not inhibited by CO, a characteristic of the wild-type enzyme. Cyanide reduction properties of dinitrogenase activated with FeMo-co containing either fluorohomocitrate diastereomer are similar, and CO strongly inhibits cyanide reduction. Dinitrogenases activated with FeMo-co containing homocitrate analogs with a hydroxyl group on the C-1 position are much less susceptible to CO inhibition of cyanide reduction. However, proton and cyanide reduction by dinitrogenase containing FeMo-co activated with (1R,2S) threo-isocitrate is only one-third that of dinitrogenase activated with the racemic mixture of -isocitrate and shows strong CO inhibition of substrate reduction. These results suggest that CO inhibition of proton and cyanide reduction occurs when the hydroxyl group on the C-1 position of analogs is "trans" to the C-2 carboxyl group (i.e., in the threo conformation). When racemic mixtures of these analogs are used in the system, it seems that the erythro form is preferentially incorporated into dinitrogenase. Finally, carbonyl sulfide inhibition of substrate reduction by dinitrogenase is dependent on the homocitrate analog incorporated into FeMo-co.

The homochiral pentadienylsilanes (3Z,5E)-(hepta-3,5-dien-2-yl)dimethyl(phenyl)silane 9, (3Z,5E)-(hepta-3,5-dien-2-yl)trimethylsilane 13, (4Z,6E)-(2-methylocta-4,6-dien-3-yl)dimethyl(phenyl)silane 14 and (4Z,6E)-(2-methylocata-4,6-dien-3-yl)trimethylsilane 17 undergo Lewis acid catalysed reactions with isobutyraldehyde and its dimethyl acetal stereospecifically anti with surprisingly high levels of stereoselectivity, ca. 90:10. The pentadienylsilanes (3Z)-hexa-3,5-dien-2-yldimethyl(phenyl)silane 20aa, (4Z)-(2-methylhepta-4,6-dien-3-yl)dimethyl(phenyl)silane 20ab, (3Z)-(hexa-3,5-dien-2-yl)-trimethylsilane 20ba and (2Z)-(1-phenylpenta-2,4-dienyl)trimethylsilane 20bc undergo dipolar cycloadditions to 2,2-dimethylpropanenitrile oxide regioselectively at the terminal double bond and stereoselectively anti to the silyl group to a somewhat lower extent, ca. 70:30. The pentadienylsilane (3Z,5E)-(6-cyclohexylhexa-3,5-dien-2-yl)trimethylsilane 25 undergoes deuteriodesilylation stereospecifically anti to a lower extent still, ca. 55:45. The pentadienylsilane (3Z,5E)-(8-methyl-8-methoxyethoxymethoxynona-3,5-dien-2-yl)trimethylsilane 34 undergoes an intramolecular reaction stereospecifically anti again to the extent of about 60:40, whereas the reaction of the corresponding allylsilane (3Z)-(6-methyl-6-methoxyethoxymethoxyhept-3-en-2-yl)trimethylsilane 32 is essentially completely anti. These results show that SE2″ reactions can be highly stereoselective in the anti sense, that the high level is probably best accounted for by the steric effect of the silyl group, and that when the steric effect is minimised, the stereospecificity is low, but still measurable. The pentadienylsilanes were prepared by aldol reactions between β-silyl esters and the appropriate α,β-unsaturated aldehyde, followed by decarboxylative elimination. The products of the SE2″ reactions were identified and their stereochemistry determined by comparison with authentic materials or by degradation and synthesis, using chiral auxiliaries to determine the enantiomeric purity. The products of two of the dipolar cycloadditions were identified by degradation and stereospecific vinylogous Peterson elimination, but the vinylogous Peterson elimination taking place with (1RS,2Z,4SR,6SR)-(4,6-dihydroxy-7,7-dimethyl-1-phenyloct-2-enyl)trimethylsilane 67bc and its (1SR) diastereoisomer 68bc was not stereospecific, giving (5E,7E)-2,2-dimethyl-8-phenylocta-5,7-dien-3-ol 73 from both isomers. The stereochemistries of all the reactions are summarised.

The optically active heptadienylsilane (1) reacts with isobutyraldehyde in a stereospecifically anti reaction to give predominantly (90:10) the enantiomer (3).

The conjugate addition of the phenyldimethylsilyl-cuprate reagent to cinnamate and crotonate esters and amides of various known chiral auxilaries is diastereoselective, making available β-silylesters of high enantiomeric excess; the sense of the diastereoselectivity is anomalously different from established precedent in the case of silyl-cuprate addition to the cinnamate ester (1, R = Ph, R*=d).

The optically active heptadienylsilane (1) reacts with isobutyraldehyde in a stereospecifically anti reaction to give predominantly (90:10) the enantiomer (3).