Hak Joong Kim

Site‐Specific Incorporation of ε‐N‐Crotonyllysine into Histones

A novel post-translationally modified amino acid, crotonyllysine (Kcr), was genetically incorporated into proteins in bacterial and mammalian cells using an evolved pyrrolysyl-tRNA/synthetase-tRNA pair. The ability to produce histones with homogenous, site-specific Kcr modifications will be valuable in elucidating the biological role of this recently identified post-translational modification.

A Potential PET Radiotracer for the 5-HT2C Receptor: Synthesis and in Vivo Evaluation of 4-(3-[18F]fluorophenethoxy)pyrimidine

The serotonin 2C receptor subtype (5-HT2C) is an excitatory 5-HT receptor widely distributed throughout the central nervous system. As the 5-HT2C receptor displays multiple actions on various neurotransmitter systems including glutamate, dopamine, epinephrine, and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), abnormalities of the 5-HT2C receptor are associated with psychiatric diseases such as depression, schizophrenia, drug abuse, and anxiety. Up to date, three kinds of 5-HT2C PET radiotracers such as [11C]N-methylated arylazepine (1), [11C]WAY-163909 (2), and [18F]fluorophenylcyclopropane (3) have been developed, but they may not be suitable for in vivo 5-HT2C imaging study due to their modest specific binding. Herein, the synthesis and in vivo evaluation of 4-(3-[18F]fluorophenethoxy)pyrimidine [18F]4 as a potential PET radiotracer for the 5-HT2C receptor is described. [18F]4 was synthesized by nucleophilic aromatic substitution of diaryliodonium precursor 17a with a 7.8 ± 2.7% (n = 6, decay corrected) radiochemical yield and over 99% radiochemical purity, showing an 89 ± 14 GBq/μmol specific radioactivity. The in vivo PET imaging studies of [18F]4 with or without lorcaserin, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved selective 5-HT2C agonist, demonstrated that [18F]4 exhibits a high level of specific binding to 5-HT2C receptors in the rat brain.

Biophysical and chemical handles to control the size of DNA nanoparticles produced by rolling circle amplification

Although rolling circle amplification (RCA) is an efficient method to produce DNA materials for biomedical applications, it does not yield nano-sized products suitable for intracellular delivery. We here provide the ways to control the size of RCA products and show a potential application of the size-controlled DNA nanoparticles.

MG53-IRS-1 (mitsugumin 53-insulin receptor substrate-1) interaction disruptor sensitizes insulin signaling in skeletal muscle

Mitsugumin 53 (MG53) is an E3 ligase that interacts with and ubiquitinates insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) in skeletal muscle; thus, an MG53-IRS-1 interaction disruptor (MID), which potentially sensitizes insulin signaling with an elevated level of IRS-1 in skeletal muscle, is an excellent candidate for treating insulin resistance. To screen for an MID, we developed a bimolecular luminescence complementation system using an N-terminal luciferase fragment fused with IRS-1 and a C-terminal luciferase fragment fused with an MG53 C14A mutant that binds to IRS-1 but does not have E3 ligase activity. An MID, which was discovered using the bimolecular luminescence complementation system, disrupted the molecular association of MG53 with IRS-1, thus abolishing MG53-mediated IRS-1 ubiquitination and degradation. Thus, the MID sensitized insulin signaling and increased insulin-elicited glucose uptake with an elevated level of IRS-1 in C2C12 myotubes. These data indicate that this MID holds promise as a drug candidate for treating insulin resistance.

Synthesis and Characterization of Anguibactin To Reveal Its Competence To Function as a Thermally Stable Surrogate Siderophore for a Gram-Negative Pathogen, Acinetobacter baumannii

Total synthesis of anguibactin was accomplished for the first time, and the following biochemical characterizations allowed for the determination of its Fe(III) binding mode as well as the demonstration of its iron delivery capability for Acinetobacter baumannii. These properties, in addition to the thermal stability over acinetobactin, render anguibactin as a competent surrogate siderophore that can be useful for the future development of a siderophore-based antibiotic delivery system against A. baumannii.

Identification of optically active pyrimidine derivatives as selective 5-HT2C modulators

A series of pyrimidine derivatives 4a–i were synthesized and evaluated for their binding affinities towards 5-HT2C receptors. With regard to designed molecules 4a–i, the influence of the size of alkyl ether and the absolute configuration of a stereogenic center on the 5-HT2C binding affinity and selectivity was studied. The most promising diasteromeric mixtures 4d and 4e were selected in the initial radioligand binding assay and they were further synthesized as optically active forms starting from optically active alcohols 5d and 5e, prepared by an enzymatic kinetic resolution. Pyrimidine analogue (R,R)-4e displayed an excellent 5-HT2C binding affinity with good selectivity values against a broad range of other 5-HT receptor subtypes.

Structural Revision of Baulamycin A and Structure–Activity Relationships of Baulamycin A Derivatives

Total synthesis of the proposed structure of baulamycin A was performed. The spectral properties of the synthetic compound differ from those reported for the natural product. On the basis of comprehensive NMR study, we proposed two other possible structures for natural baulamycin A. Total syntheses of these two substances were performed, which enabled assignment of the correct structure of baulamycin A. Key features of the convergent and fully stereocontrolled route include Evans Aldol and Brown allylation reactions to construct the left fragment, a prolinol amide-derived alkylation/desymmetrization to install the methyl-substituted centers in the right fragment, and finally, a Carreira alkynylation to join both fragments. In addition, we have determined the inhibitory activities of novel baulamycin A derivatives against the enzyme SbnE. This SAR study provides useful insight into the design of novel SbnE inhibitors that overcome the drug resistance of pathogens, which cause life-threatening infections.