Rengarajan Balamurugan

Small-molecule inhibition of APT1 affects Ras localization and signaling

Cycles of depalmitoylation and repalmitoylation critically control the steady-state localization and function of various peripheral membrane proteins, such as Ras proto-oncogene products. Interference with acylation using small molecules is a strategy to modulate cellular localization--and thereby unregulated signaling--caused by palmitoylated Ras proteins. We present the knowledge-based development and characterization of a potent inhibitor of acyl protein thioesterase 1 (APT1), a bona fide depalmitoylating enzyme that is, so far, poorly characterized in cells. The inhibitor, palmostatin B, perturbs the cellular acylation cycle at the level of depalmitoylation and thereby causes a loss of the precise steady-state localization of palmitoylated Ras. As a consequence, palmostatin B induces partial phenotypic reversion in oncogenic HRasG12V-transformed fibroblasts. We identify APT1 as one of the thioesterases in the acylation cycle and show that this protein is a cellular target of the inhibitor.

|[beta]|-Lactone probes identify a papain-like peptide ligase in Arabidopsis thaliana

New activity-based probes are essential for expanding studies on the hundreds of serine and cysteine proteases encoded by the genome of Arabidopsis thaliana. To monitor protease activities in plant extracts, we generated biotinylated peptides containing a beta-lactone reactive group. These probes cause strong labeling in leaf proteomes. Unexpectedly, labeling was detected at the N terminus of PsbP, nonproteolytic protein of photosystem II. Inhibitor studies and reverse genetics led to the discovery that this unusual modification is mediated by a single plant-specific, papain-like protease called RD21. In cellular extracts, RD21 accepts both beta-lactone probes and peptides as donor molecules and ligates them, probably through a thioester intermediate, to unmodified N termini of acceptor proteins.

Gold-catalyzed electrophilic addition to arylalkynes. A facile method for the regioselective synthesis of substituted naphthalenes.

An interesting gold-catalyzed electrophilic addition to arylalkyne to synthesize substituted naphthalenes has been presented. Different metal hexafluoroantimonates have also been found to effect the transformation. Counter anion and oxo- and alkynophilicities of catalytic gold species might play an important role in this annulation reaction.

Synthesis of Arylnaphthalene Lignan Scaffold by Gold-Catalyzed Intramolecular Sequential Electrophilic Addition and Benzannulation

An intramolecular approach to generate compounds containing an arylnaphthalene lignan scaffold in high yields is presented. It involves a sequential intramolecular electrophilic attack of carbonyl on arylalkyne followed by benzannulation catalyzed by gold salt. AuCl(3) in combination with AgSbF(6) works better to effect this transformation. Selected products have been converted into arylnaphthalene lactone natural products such as justicidin E, taiwanin C, and retrojusticidin B.

Synthesis of Naphthalene Derivatives from ortho-Alkynylacetophenone Derivatives via Tandem in Situ Incorporation of Acetal and Intramolecular Heteroalkyne Metathesis/Annulation

An interesting domino reaction for the synthesis of substituted naphthyl ketones has been developed using readily accessible starting materials. This domino reaction proceeds via in situ incorporation of an acetal followed by intramolecular heteroalkyne metathesis/annulation in an ortho-alkynylacetophenone derivative. A deuterium incorporation experiment has been carried out to understand the mechanism.

Triflic acid promoted direct α-alkylation of unactivated ketones using benzylic alcohols via in situ formed acetals.

Direct α-alkylation of unactivated ketones using benzylic alcohols as electrophiles has been achieved at room temperature. This reaction takes place via in situ formed acetal using triflic acid and trimethyl orthoformate. It is believed that methyl vinyl ether formed from the in situ generated dimethyl acetal in the presence of triflic acid undergoes alkylation. Diverse ketones could be alkylated with diarylmethanols, cinnamyl alcohols, and phenyl propargyl alcohols having different electrophilicities.

Nonglycosidic Agonists of Invariant NKT Cells for Use as Vaccine Adjuvants

Based on the crystal structures of human α‐GalCer–CD1d and iNKT–α‐GalCer–CD1d complexes, nonglycosidic analogues of α‐GalCer were synthesized. They activate iNKT cells resulting in dendritic cell maturation and the priming of antigen‐specific T and B cells. Therefore, they are attractive adjuvants in vaccination strategies for cancer and infectious diseases.

Homo and Heterocoupling of Terminal Alkynes Using Catalytic CuCl2 and DBU

Homocoupling of terminal alkynes has been efficiently achieved using catalytic amounts of CuCl2 and DBU. This methodology could be extended to couple two different terminal alkynes together by taking one of the alkyne partners, preferably the electron rich alkyne, in five fold excess than the other.

Synthesis of 1-arylnaphthalenes by gold-catalyzed one-pot sequential epoxide to carbonyl rearrangement and cyclization with arylalkynes.

Intermolecular and intramolecular reactions of a one-pot gold-catalyzed epoxide rearrangement followed by an electrophilic addition to arylalkynes to synthesize 1-arylnaphthalenes have been reported. The intramolecular reaction has been applied to synthesize 1-arylnaphthalenes fused with saturated furan, pyran, pyrrole, and cyclopentane ring systems.

Synthesis of chiral α-diarylacetic esters by stereospecific 1,2-aryl migration promoted by in situ generated acetals from benzoins.

A simple protocol for the synthesis of α-diarylacetic esters from benzoins is described. In situ generated acetal assists rapid 1,2-aryl migration in a stereospecific manner, paving the way to make enantioenriched α-diarylacetic esters from easily accessible enantiopure benzoins.