Quentin I. Churches

Naturally occurring polyphenolic inhibitors of amyloid beta aggregation.

Alzheimers disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease and is one of the main causes of death in developed countries. Consumption of foods rich in polyphenolics is strongly correlated with reduced incidence of Alzheimers disease. Our study has investigated the biological activity of previously untested polyphenolic compounds in preventing amyloid β aggregation. The anti-aggregatory potential of these compounds was assessed using the Thioflavin-T assay, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering and size exclusion chromatography. Two structurally related compounds, luteolin and transilitin were identified as potent inhibitors of Aβ fibril formation. Computational docking studies with an X-ray derived oligomeric structure offer a rationale for the inhibitory activity observed and may facilitate development of improved inhibitors of Aβ aggregation and toxicity.

Organoboron Reagents in the Preparation of Functionalized α-Amino Acids

Over the past decade, major advances in the preparation and utilization of organoboron reagents have been applied to virtually all areas of organic synthesis. The present review collates recent examples of the use of organoboron reagents in the synthesis of α-amino acids and their derivatives. Aryl- and alkenylboronic acids have been used in the asymmetric synthesis of α-amino acids through conjugate addition to unsaturated amino acids and the Petasis three-component coupling reaction. Additionally, α-amino acid derivatives with organoboron functionality on the side-chain have been prepared and used in metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions to prepare cross-linked amino acids and complex cyclic peptide natural products.

Iron, Copper, and Zinc Concentration in Aβ Plaques in the APP/PS1 Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease Correlates with Metal Levels in the Surrounding Neuropil

The metal ions of iron, copper, and zinc have long been associated with the aggregation of β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques in Alzheimers disease; an interaction that has been suggested to promote increased oxidative stress and neuronal dysfunction. We examined plaque metal load in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice using X-ray fluorescence microscopy to assess how the anatomical location of Aβ plaques was influenced by the metal content of surrounding tissue. Immunohistochemical staining of Aβ plaques colocalized with areas of increased X-ray scattering power in unstained tissue sections, allowing direct X-ray based-assessment of plaque metal levels in sections subjected to minimal chemical fixation. We identified and mapped 48 individual plaques in four subregions of the hippocampus from four biological replicates. Iron, Cu, and Zn areal concentrations (ng cm-2) were increased in plaques compared to the surrounding neuropil. However, this elevation in metal load reflected the local metal makeup of the surrounding neuropil, where different brain regions are enriched for different metal ions. After correcting for tissue density, only Zn levels remained elevated in plaques. This study suggests that the in vivo binding of Zn to plaques is not simply due to increased protein deposition.

Therapeutic targeting and rapid mobilization of endosteal HSC using a small molecule integrin antagonist.

The inherent disadvantages of using granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) mobilization have driven efforts to identify alternate strategies based on single doses of small molecules. Here, we show targeting α9β1/α4β1 integrins with a single dose of a small molecule antagonist (BOP (N-(benzenesulfonyl)-L-prolyl-L-O-(1-pyrrolidinylcarbonyl)tyrosine)) rapidly mobilizes long-term multi-lineage reconstituting HSC. Synergistic engraftment augmentation is observed when BOP is co-administered with AMD3100. Impressively, HSC in equal volumes of peripheral blood (PB) mobilized with this combination effectively out-competes PB mobilized with G-CSF. The enhanced mobilization observed using BOP and AMD3100 is recapitulated in a humanized NODSCIDIL2Rγ−/− model, demonstrated by a significant increase in PB CD34+ cells. Using a related fluorescent analogue of BOP (R-BC154), we show that this class of antagonists preferentially bind human and mouse HSC and progenitors via endogenously primed/activated α9β1/α4β1 within the endosteal niche. These results support using dual α9β1/α4β1 inhibitors as effective, rapid and transient mobilization agents with promising clinical applications.

Stereoselectivity of the Petasis reaction with various chiral amines and styrenylboronic acids

Several chiral amines were investigated for the stereoselective preparation of homophenylalanine derivatives using the Petasis reaction. Chiral secondary amines such as N,α-dimethylbenzylamine and N-benzylphenylglycinol gave the best results in terms of both yield and diastereoselectivity. The use of N-benzylphenylglycinol leads directly to 3-alkenyl-4-benzyl-5-phenyloxazin-2-one products. Intriguing variation was observed in the stereoselectivity of reactions employing para-substituted styrenylboronic acid substrates, where presumably only electronic factors are involved.

A General Method for Interconversion of Boronic Acid Protecting Groups: Trifluoroborates as Common Intermediates

We have developed a general protocol for the interconversion of diverse protected boronic acids, via intermediate organotrifluoroborates. N-Methyliminodiacetyl boronates, which have been hitherto resistant to direct conversion to trifluoroborates, have been shown to undergo fluorolysis at elevated temperatures. Subsequent solvolysis of organotrifluoroborates in the presence of trimethylsilyl chloride and a wide range of bis-nucleophiles enables the generation of a variety of protected boronic acids.

Anomalies in the Stereoselectivity of the Petasis Reaction Using Styrenyl Boronic Acids

The Petasis three-component coupling reaction of N-benzylphenylglycinol, glyoxylic acid, and styrenylboronic acids allows for the efficient synthesis of functionalized homoarylalanine derivatives. The reactions were shown to proceed in high yield but low selectivity, regardless of the nature of the substituent on the styrenylboronic acid component. Anomalies in the stereoselectivity of these reactions compared with previously reported results have been traced to the source of the organoboronic acid. Asymmetric dihydroxylation of the unsaturated amino acid derivatives enables a highly efficient route to dihydroxyhomoarylalanine derivatives.

Total Synthesis of Ustiloxin D Utilizing an Ammonia-Ugi Reaction.

Total synthesis of the highly functionalized cyclic peptide natural product, ustiloxin D, has been achieved in a convergent manner. Our strategy incorporates an asymmetric allylic alkylation to construct the tert-alkyl aryl ether linkage between the dopa and isoleucine residues. The elaborated β-hydroxydopa derivative is rapidly converted to a linear tripeptide through an ammonia-Ugi reaction. Subsequent cyclization and global deprotection affords ustiloxin D in six steps from a known β-hydroxydopa derivative.

The Synthesis of a Cubane-Substituted Dipeptide

Amino acids and peptides bearing cyclic hydrocarbon side-chains are of interest in the development of a wide range of bioactive molecules. The preparation of an amino acid and a dipeptide derivative bearing an unfunctionalised cubane substituent is described. Attempts to prepare a cubylalanine derivative via the corresponding dehydroalanine were unsuccessful due to the high sensitivity of this vinyl cubane compound. Conversely, the addition of cubyllithium to a (RS)-glyoxylate sulfinimine led to an effective synthesis of a cubylglycine derivative and a cubane-substituted dipeptide in diastereomerically pure form.

N-Methyliminodiacetate (MIDA): A Useful Protecting Group for the Generation of Complex Organoboron Compounds

Organoboron compounds are extremely useful building blocks for organic synthesis; however, they suffer from incompatibilities with many synthetic transformations, and thus are typically introduced just before their utilization. This article aims to briefly highlight the utility of the N-methyliminodiacetate (MIDA) boronate complex as a protecting group for organoboron compounds and detail the expanding role of protected organoboron compounds from merely early stage reactants to late stage complex building blocks. Mancilla and Contreras first described boron MIDA complexes in 1986; however, it is only recently that Burke and coworkers have expounded the stabilizing/deactivating properties of this functionality. This boron protecting group has subsequently been applied in the synthesis of several highly functionalized boron-containing intermediates en-route to several natural products.