Latest ArticlesA supramolecular dimer of doxorubicin (DOX) was constructed via ternary host-guest interactions between cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) and tryptophan modified DOX (DOX-Trp, connected with an acid-labile bond) and we demonstrate for the first time that a supramolecular dimer of DOX can be formed upon homo-dimerization by CB[8], which may act as a stimuli pH-responsive, supramolecular DOX dimer prodrug system. This supramolecular DOX dimer transported DOX efficiently and selectively to cancer cells, thereby exhibiting significantly minimized cytotoxicity against noncancerous cells while maintaining effective cytotoxicity against cancer cells. Under this strategy, many other anticancer drugs could be chemically modified and loaded as a dimeric "ammunition" into CB[8] as supramolecular dimer prodrug systems (or a "jet fighter") for improved cancer therapy.
Peptide amphiphiles with well-organized secondary structure are an important family of molecules that are known to assemble into a variety of nanostructures. In this work, we present three guanidiniocarbonylpyrrole (GCP) containing peptide amphiphiles, which show versatile morphology and secondary structure changes as a result of different chain lengths and in different concentration regimes. The random coil conformation, α-helix, and β-sheet are obtained for peptide 1, peptide 2, and peptide 3, respectively under neutral aqueous conditions. Furthermore, all peptide amphiphiles can aggregate to form nanoparticles at low concentrations. However, at high concentrations, peptide 1 selfassembles into left-handed twisted helical fibers, while longer bamboo-like morphology can be observed exclusively for peptide 2. For peptide 3, freshly prepared samples show uniform spherical morphology, whereas an obvious morphological transition from original nanoparticles to disordered fibers was realized after incubating for one week. These fascinating morphology changes were determined by the combination of circular dichroism, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and theoretical calculations.
In this study, we report a new small molecule acceptor (named TT-4F) which uses 3, 6-dimethoxylthieno[3, 2-b]thiophene (TT) as the π-bridge. Addition of 0.05 weight ratio amount of TT-4F into the host binary blend of PTB7-Th:IEICO-4F, resulting in a ternary blend in a weight ratio of 1:1:0.05, enables increased open-circuit voltage (Voc), short-circuit current-density (Jsc), and fill-factor (FF) at the same time. Finally, 12.1% efficiency is obtained. Compared to the 3-(2-ethylhexyloxylthiophene) bridge on IEICO-4F, the additional methoxyl group on the TT-6 position is involved in the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) and the larger π-system on TT increases the electron-donating nature, both of which help to raise the LUMO level, one reason of the increased Voc. Upon addition of 0.05 TT-4F, the hole mobility is increased, the monomolecular recombination is reduced, and the charge dissociation and collection is enhanced. All of these contribute to the increased Jsc and FF.
(±)-Magoilgomer A[(±)-1] and magoilgomer B (2) were identified from the bark of Magnolia officinalis var. biloba. (+)-1 and (-)-1 were a pair of novel biphenyl derivatives featuring three C6-C3 subunits. 2 was an unprecedented adduct containing magnolol and honokiol. These three oligomers possessed new parallel mode which should be biosynthesized from the coupling of three or four C6-C3 subunits. The structures of (±)-1 and 2 were elucidated based on the spectroscopic data analyses and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. 2 exhibited neuroprotective effects of oxygen glucose deprivation-induced SK-N-SH cell injury.
(+)-6-3'a, 7-6'-Isowallichilide and (-)-6-3'a, 7-6'-isowallichilide, a pair of enantiomeric phthalide dimers featuring new 6-3'a, 7-6' dimerization sites, were isolated from Ligusticum chuanxiong. The structures were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. Furthermore, the absolute configurations were assigned using experimental and theoretical electronic circular dichroism methods. Their nitric oxide inhibition, antiplatelet aggregation and antioxidant activities were investigated.
(±)-Crataegusnorin A (1a/1b) and B (2a/2b), two pairs of rare 8, 9'-epoxy-type norlignan enantiomers featuring a γ-butyrolactone ring, were isolated from the fruit of Crataegus pinnatifida. Their structures were determined via extensive spectroscopic analyses. Gauge-independent atomic orbital (GIAO) NMR chemical shift calculations, combined with the advanced statistical method DP4+ were employed to establish the relative configurations of four compounds. Next, chiral separation was accomplished by chiral chromatographic column and the absolute configurations of the four compounds were unambiguously assigned by comparison between their experimental electronic circular dichroism curves with the quantum-mechanically calculated curves based on time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). All the isolates were evaluated for their neuroprotective activities against H2O2-induced cell injury in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. The results showed that two pairs of enantiomers 1a/1b and 2a/2b displayed diff; erent effect on neuroprotective activity. Among them, compound 2a displayed the most potent neuroprotective effect. Further flow cytometry analysis indicated that 2a could protect SH-SY5Y cells from oxidative damage through inhibiting cell apoptosis.
Dracomolphesin A-E (1-5), five 3, 4-seco-phenylpropanoids featuring an aromatic ring opened framework, were isolated from the aerial parts of Dracocephalum moldavica. The structures with absolute configurations were determined by spectroscopic methods coupled with Mosher method. Notably, these compounds represented an example of aromatic ring cleavage products of phenylpropanoids. The possible biosynthetic pathway of these compounds was proposed. Compounds 1, 2, 4 and 5 were demonstrated to be Nrf2 pathway activators.
Hyperinoids A (1) and B (2), two prenylated acylphloroglucinol related meroterpenoids, were isolated from Hypericum patulum. Compound 1 incorporates an unprecedented 11, 12-dioxatetracyclo[5.4.3.01, 7.04, 14]tetradecane system, while 2 possesses a unique 10, 11-dioxatetracyclo[5.3.3.01, 7.04, 13] tridecane system. Their structures were established by spectroscopic analysis and X-ray crystallographic data. Compounds 1 and 2 were identified as potent NF-κB inhibitors and suppressed the LPS-induced inflammatory responses in RAW 246.7 macrophages and primary mouse BMDM cells
The H3 bivalent modifications of trimethylation at Lys9 and acetylation at Lys18 (H3-K9Me3-K18Ac) were identified to collectively recruit TRIM33 in the nodal signaling pathway. To understand the underlying mechanism of TRIM33 recruitment, the nucleosome core particles (NCPs) containing full-length H3-K9Me3-K18Ac were indispensable samples. Herein we developed a pseudo dipeptide strategy to efficiently prepare peptide segments, facilitating the chemical synthesis of H3-K9Me3-K18Ac at a tens of milligram scale. The synthetic H3-K9Me3-K18Ac was then examined by CD spectroscopy, which demonstrated a prominent shift compared to recombinant H3. Finally, bivalently modified NCPs were assembled and verified by gel mobility shift assay with good homogeneity.
Insect chitinase and N-acetyl-β-D-hexosaminidases (Hex) are potential targets for developing new pesticides. Here, a series of thiazolylhydrazones I (with substituted group R1 at N3) and II (with substituted group R1 at N2) were designed, synthesised and evaluated as competitive inhibitors of OfHex1 and OfChi-h, from the agricultural pest Ostrinia furnacalis. Derivatives I-3d and II-3d, with phenoxyethyl group at R1, demonstrated the best inhibitory activities against OfHex1 and OfChi-h. Molecular docking analysis indicated that the branched conformation compound II-3d (Ki=1.5 μmol/L) formed more hydrogen bonds with OfHex1 than the stretched conformation compound I-3d (Ki=5.9 μmol/L). The differences in compounds' binding conformations with OfChi-h explained differences in inhibitory activity of compounds I-3d (Ki=1.9 μmol/L) and II-3d (Ki=4.1 μmol/L). This work suggests a novel scaffold for developing specific Hex and Chi-h inhibitors.
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