Adrianus M. C. H. van den Nieuwendijk

Ultrasensitive in situ visualization of active glucocerebrosidase molecules

Deficiency of glucocerebrosidase (GBA) underlies Gaucher disease, a common lysosomal storage disorder. Carriership for Gaucher disease has recently been identified as major risk for parkinsonism. Presently, no method exists to visualize active GBA molecules in situ. We here report the design, synthesis and application of two fluorescent activity-based probes allowing highly specific labeling of active GBA molecules in vitro and in cultured cells and mice in vivo. Detection of in vitro labeled recombinant GBA on slab gels after electrophoresis is in the low attomolar range. Using cell or tissue lysates, we obtained exclusive labeling of GBA molecules. We present evidence from fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis, fluorescence microscopy and pulse-chase experiments of highly efficient labeling of GBA molecules in intact cells as well as tissues of mice. In addition, we illustrate the use of the fluorescent probes to study inhibitors and tentative chaperones in living cells.

Rapid and profound rewiring of brain lipid signaling networks by acute diacylglycerol lipase inhibition

Significance Lipid transmitters, such as endocannabinoid and eicosanoids, play important roles in the nervous system and regulate behaviors that include pain, emotionality, and addiction. Chemical probes that perturb lipid transmitter biosynthesis are needed to understand the functions of these pathways in the nervous system. Here, we describe selective and in vivo active inhibitors of the diacylglycerol lipases DAGLα and DAGLβ, which biosynthesize the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). We show that these inhibitors produce rapid and dramatic changes in a brain lipid signaling network, comprising not only 2-AG, but also eicosanoids and diacylglycerols. These lipid changes are accompanied by impairments in synaptic plasticity and attenuation of neuroinflammatory responses in vivo, underscoring the broad role that DAGLs play in nervous system metabolism and function. Diacylglycerol lipases (DAGLα and DAGLβ) convert diacylglycerol to the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol. Our understanding of DAGL function has been hindered by a lack of chemical probes that can perturb these enzymes in vivo. Here, we report a set of centrally active DAGL inhibitors and a structurally related control probe and their use, in combination with chemical proteomics and lipidomics, to determine the impact of acute DAGL blockade on brain lipid networks in mice. Within 2 h, DAGL inhibition produced a striking reorganization of bioactive lipids, including elevations in DAGs and reductions in endocannabinoids and eicosanoids. We also found that DAGLα is a short half-life protein, and the inactivation of DAGLs disrupts cannabinoid receptor-dependent synaptic plasticity and impairs neuroinflammatory responses, including lipopolysaccharide-induced anapyrexia. These findings illuminate the highly interconnected and dynamic nature of lipid signaling pathways in the brain and the central role that DAGL enzymes play in regulating this network.

Synthesis of l-altro-1-Deoxynojirimycin, d-allo-1-Deoxynojirimycin, and d-galacto-1-Deoxynojirimycin from a Single Chiral Cyanohydrin

The chemoenzymatic synthesis of three 1-deoxynojirimycin-type iminosugars is reported. Key steps in the synthetic scheme include a Dibal reduction-transimination-sodium borohydride reduction cascade of reactions on an enantiomerically pure cyanohydrin, itself prepared employing almond hydroxynitrile lyase (paHNL) as the common precursor. Ensuing ring-closing metathesis and Upjohn dihydroxylation afford the target compounds.

Mixing of peptides and electrophilic traps gives rise to potent, broad-spectrum proteasome inhibitors

The synthesis and evaluation of hybrid proteasome inhibitors that contain structural elements of the known inhibitors bortezomib, epoxomicin and peptide vinyl sulfones is described. From the panel of 15 inhibitors some structure activity relationships can be deduced with regard to inhibitory activity in relation to peptide recognition element, inhibitor size and nature of the electrophilic trap. Further, the panel contains one of the most potent peptide-based pan-proteasome inhibitors reported to date.

An enantioselective synthesis of the Williams glycine template

Abstract The Williams glycine template for amino acid synthesis, benzyl (2R,3S)-6-oxo-2,3-diphenyl-4-morpholinecarboxylate (1), was prepared in enantiomerically pure form in six steps from benzaldehyde in 48% overall yield. The initial chirality of the molecule was derived from oxynitrilase catalysed addition of HCN to benzaldehyde. A simple procedure for preparation of the biocatalyst is described.

Incorporation of fluorinated phenylalanine generates highly specific inhibitor of proteasome's chymotrypsin-like sites.

Proteasomal processing is conducted by three individual catalytic subunits, namely beta1, beta2, and beta5. Subunit-specific inhibitors are useful tools in dissecting the role of these individual subunits and are leads toward the development of antitumor agents. We here report that the presence of fluorinated phenylalanine derivatives in peptide based proteasome inhibitors has a profound effect on inhibitor potency and selectivity. Specifically, compound 4a emerges as one of the most beta5 specific inhibitors known to date.

Identification and development of biphenyl substituted iminosugars as improved dual glucosylceramide synthase/neutral glucosylceramidase inhibitors.

This work details the evaluation of a number of N-alkylated deoxynojirimycin derivatives on their merits as dual glucosylceramide synthase/neutral glucosylceramidase inhibitors. Building on our previous work, we synthesized a series of D-gluco and L-ido-configured iminosugars N-modified with a variety of hydrophobic functional groups. We found that iminosugars featuring N-pentyloxymethylaryl substituents are considerably more potent inhibitors of glucosylceramide synthase than their aliphatic counterparts. In a next optimization round, we explored a series of biphenyl-substituted iminosugars of both configurations (D-gluco and L-ido) with the aim to introduce structural features known to confer metabolic stability to drug-like molecules. From these series, two sets of molecules emerge as lead series for further profiling. Biphenyl-substituted L-ido-configured deoxynojirimycin derivatives are selective for glucosylceramidase and the nonlysosomal glucosylceramidase, and we consider these as leads for the treatment of neuropathological lysosomal storage disorders. Their D-gluco-counterparts are also potent inhibitors of intestinal glycosidases, and because of this characteristic, we regard these as the prime candidates for type 2 diabetes therapeutics.

Inhibition of nucleoside transport By new analogues of nitrobenzylthioinosine

Nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBTI, 1) was systematically modified by attachment of substituents at positions C6 and N9, and also by substitution of N1 with C. These modifications were chosen to reduce the polarity of the new compounds. Incorporation of the nitro functionality into a benzoxadiazole ring system was considered first. These new nucleosides showed high affinity (1.5-10nM) towards the nucleoside transport protein as present on human erythrocyte ghosts. Next, modification of this benzoxadiazole ring system with C, S and O in different positions produced a number of less polar nucleosides with affinity in the higher nanomolar range. Modification of N9 was achieved with different alkyl and alcohol substituents. An n-butyl substituent proved best, although all variations yielded substantial decreases in affinity. Replacement of N1 by a carbon atom in combination with a 2-Cl substituent also resulted in a relatively potent NBTI derivative (47 nM).

Triazole Ureas Act as Diacylglycerol Lipase Inhibitors and Prevent Fasting-Induced Refeeding

Triazole ureas constitute a versatile class of irreversible inhibitors that target serine hydrolases in both cells and animal models. We have previously reported that triazole ureas can act as selective and CNS-active inhibitors for diacylglycerol lipases (DAGLs), enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) that activates cannabinoid CB1 receptor. Here, we report the enantio- and diastereoselective synthesis and structure-activity relationship studies. We found that 2,4-substituted triazole ureas with a biphenylmethanol group provided the most optimal scaffold. Introduction of a chiral ether substituent on the 5-position of the piperidine ring provided ultrapotent inhibitor 38 (DH376) with picomolar activity. Compound 38 temporarily reduces fasting-induced refeeding of mice, thereby emulating the effect of cannabinoid CB1-receptor inverse agonists. This was mirrored by 39 (DO34) but also by the negative control compound 40 (DO53) (which does not inhibit DAGL), which indicates the triazole ureas may affect the energy balance in mice through multiple molecular targets.

Synthesis of 6-Hydroxysphingosine and α-Hydroxy Ceramide Using a Cross-Metathesis Strategy

In this paper, a new synthetic route toward 6-hydroxysphingosine and α-hydroxy ceramide is described. The synthesis employs a cross-metathesis to unite a sphingosine head allylic alcohol with a long-chain fatty acid alkene that also bears an allylic alcohol group. To allow for a productive CM coupling, the sphingosine head allylic alcohol was protected with a cyclic carbonate moiety and a reactive CM catalyst system, consisting of Grubbs II catalyst and CuI, was employed.