Parvinder Pal Singh

Transbilayer Lipid Interactions Mediate Nanoclustering of Lipid-Anchored Proteins

Understanding how functional lipid domains in live cell membranes are generated has posed a challenge. Here, we show that transbilayer interactions are necessary for the generation of cholesterol-dependent nanoclusters of GPI-anchored proteins mediated by membrane-adjacent dynamic actin filaments. We find that long saturated acyl-chains are required for forming GPI-anchor nanoclusters. Simultaneously, at the inner leaflet, long acyl-chain-containing phosphatidylserine (PS) is necessary for transbilayer coupling. All-atom molecular dynamics simulations of asymmetric multicomponent-membrane bilayers in a mixed phase provide evidence that immobilization of long saturated acyl-chain lipids at either leaflet stabilizes cholesterol-dependent transbilayer interactions forming local domains with characteristics similar to a liquid-ordered (lo) phase. This is verified by experiments wherein immobilization of long acyl-chain lipids at one leaflet effects transbilayer interactions of corresponding lipids at the opposite leaflet. This suggests a general mechanism for the generation and stabilization of nanoscale cholesterol-dependent and actin-mediated lipid clusters in live cell membranes.

Iron-catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Electron-Deficient Heterocycles and Quinone with Organoboron Species via Innate C–H Functionalization: Application in Total Synthesis of Pyrazine Alkaloid Botryllazine A

Here, we report an iron-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of electron-deficient heterocycles and quinone with organoboron species via innate C-H functionalization. Iron(II) acetylacetonate along with oxidant (K2S2O8) and phase-transfer catalyst (TBAB) under open flask conditions efficiently catalyzed the cross-coupling of pyrazine with arylboronic acids and gave monoarylated products in good to excellent yields. Optimized conditions also worked for other heterocylces such as quinoxalines, pyridines, quinoline, and isoquinoline as well as quinones. In addition, we demonstrated as a first example its application for the synthesis of anticancer marine pyrazine alkaloid botryllazine A.

Protective efficacy of mitochondrial targeted antioxidant MitoQ against dichlorvos induced oxidative stress and cell death in rat brain

Dichlorvos is a synthetic insecticide that belongs to the family of chemically related organophosphate (OP) pesticides. It can be released into the environment as a major degradation product of other OPs, such as trichlorfon, naled, and metrifonate. Dichlorvos exerts its toxic effects in humans and animals by inhibiting neural acetylcholinesterase. Chronic low-level exposure to dichlorvos has been shown to result in inhibition of the mitochondrial complex I and cytochrome oxidase in rat brain, resulting in generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Enhanced ROS production leads to disruption of cellular antioxidant defense systems and release of cytochrome c (cyt c) from mitochondria to cytosol resulting in apoptotic cell death. MitoQ is an antioxidant, selectively targeted to mitochondria and protects it from oxidative damage and has been shown to decrease mitochondrial damage in various animal models of oxidative stress. We hypothesized that if oxidative damage to mitochondria does play a significant role in dichlorvos induced neurodegeneration, then MitoQ should ameliorate neuronal apoptosis. Administration of MitoQ (100 μmol/kg body wt/day) reduced dichlorvos (6 mg/kg body wt/day) induced oxidative stress (decreased ROS production, increased MnSOD activity and glutathione levels) with decreased lipid peroxidation, protein and DNA oxidation. In addition, MitoQ also suppressed DNA fragmentation, cyt c release and caspase-3 activity in dichlorvos treated rats compared to the control group. Further electron microscopic studies revealed that MitoQ attenuates dichlorvos induced mitochondrial swelling, loss of cristae and chromatin condensation. These results indicate that MitoQ may be beneficial against OP (dichlorvos) induced neurodegeneration.

New method for C–H arylation/alkylation at α-position of cyclic aliphatic ethers by iron-oxide mediated reaction

We report a new and efficient iron oxide catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between organometallic species such as alkyl/arylmagnesium halides or organolithium species and α-hydrogen bearing cyclic unbranched and branched aliphatic ethers via activation of C(sp(3))-H. In the presence of 1 mol% of iron oxide, five and six membered unbranched cyclic ethers such as tetrahydrofuran and tetrahydropyran gave good to excellent yields of cross-coupled products. Whereas, in case of branched ether such as 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, it was observed that the arylation occurred at both the sides and gave moderate yields of a mixture of regioisomers. Among the organometallic species used, alkyl organometallic reagents gave less yields as compared to aryl organometallics.

Cross-dehydrogenative coupling of azoles with α-C(sp3)-H of ethers and thioethers under metal-free conditions: functionalization of H-N azoles via C-H activation.

A metal-free cross-dehydrogenative coupling method for the synthesis of N-substituted azoles has been developed. The TBAI/TBHP system catalyzed the coupling of azoles with ethers and thioethers via α-C(sp(3))-H activation. Under the optimized conditions, a diverse range of un/substituted azoles such as 1H-benzimidazole, 9H-purine, 1H-benzotriazole, 1H-1,2,3-triazole, 1H-1,2,4-triazole, and 1H-pyrazole were successfully employed for coupling with various ethers and thioethers such as tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran, 1,4-dioxane, diethyl ether, tetrahydrothiophene, and 1,3-dithiolane.

Metal-Free Approach for the Synthesis of N-Aryl Sulfoximines via Aryne Intermediate

A metal-free and operationally simple N-arylation of NH-sulfoximines with aryne precursors is reported. Transition metal-free reaction conditions and shorter reaction times are the highlights of the present method. The mild optimized condition was also found to be suitable with enantiopure substrates.

Cu–Mn Spinel Oxide Catalyzed Regioselective Halogenation of Phenols and N-Heteroarenes

A novel simple, mild chemo- and regioselective method has been developed for the halogenation of phenols using Cu-Mn spinel oxide as a catalyst and N-halosuccinimide as halogenating agent. In the presence of Cu-Mn spinel oxide B, both electron-withdrawing and electron-donating groups bearing phenols gave monohalogenated products in good to excellent yields with highest para-selectivity. The para-substituted phenol gave monohalogenated product with good yield and ortho-selectivity. N-Heteroarenes such as indoles and imidazoles also gave monohalogenated products with high selectivity. Unlike the copper-catalyzed halogenation, the present method works well with electron-withdrawing group bearing phenols and gives comparatively better yields and selectivity. The Cu-Mn spinel catalyst is robust and reused three times under optimized conditions without any loss in catalytic activity. Nonphenolics did not undergo this transformation.

Cu–Mn spinel oxide catalyzed synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines through domino three-component coupling and 5-exo-dig cyclization in water

An efficient and eco-friendly synthesis of therapeutically important and structurally diverse imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines using recyclable bimetallic Cu–Mn spinel oxide catalyst in aqueous medium has been developed. The Cu–Mn catalyzed domino three-component coupling of 2-aminopyridines, aldehydes and alkynes followed by 5-exo-dig cycloisomerization produced desired imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines in good yields. The efficiency of this protocol could be attributed to the presence of these metals in multiple oxidation states (Cu2+, Mn2+, Mn3+ and Mn4+) in the bimetallic Cu–Mn catalyst. The advantages of this protocol over previous reports include the use of aqueous medium, recyclable catalyst, shorter reaction times and no requirement of any additive. This is the first method for synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines which utilizes water as a reaction medium.

Development of novel lipidated analogs of picroside as vaccine adjuvants: acylated analogs of picroside-ii elicit strong Th1 and Th2 response to ovalbumin in mice.

The acylated analogs of picroside-II were synthesized and tested for immune-adjuvant activity in the presence of weak antigen ovalbumin found to stimulate anti-OVA IgG titer, neutralizing antibody (IgG1 and IgG2a) titer as well as the production of soluble mediators of a Th1 response (IL-2 and IFN-γ) and Th2 response (IL-4) and proliferation of T lymphocytes sub-sets (CD4/CD8). Furthermore, these modified analogs of picroside-II were able to elicit a substantial increase in anti-OVA IgG when compared with OVA alone. These results support the use of acylated analogs particularly PK-II-3 and PK-II-4 as potent enhancer of antigen-specific Th1 and Th2 immune responses and thus are promising immune-adjuvant candidate for vaccines.

I2/Aqueous TBHP-Catalyzed Coupling of Amides with Methylarenes/Aldehydes/Alcohols: Metal-Free Synthesis of Imides

We present a metal-free method for the synthesis of imides by the direct coupling of NH-amides with methylarenes under iodine/aqueous TBHP conditions. The optimized conditions worked very well with benzaldehydes and benzyl alcohol and furnished the corresponding imides in good to excellent yields. A series of control and radical scavenger experiments were also performed, which suggested the involvement of radical pathways. The labeling experiment in the presence of (18)O-labeled H2O suggested water as a source of oxygen in the imides.