Investigation of the Interaction between 1,3-Diazaheterocyclic Compounds and the Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated Protein by Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Molecular Modeling

Recent Advances of m6A Demethylases Inhibitors and Their Biological Functions in Human Diseases

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a post-transcriptional RNA modification and one of the most abundant types of RNA chemical modifications. m6A functions as a molecular switch and is involved in a range of biomedical aspects, including cardiovascular diseases, the central nervous system, and cancers. Conceptually, m6A methylation can be dynamically and reversibly modulated by RNA methylation regulatory proteins, resulting in diverse fates of mRNAs. This review focuses on m6A demethylases fat-mass- and obesity-associated protein (FTO) and alkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5), which especially erase m6A modification from target mRNAs. Recent advances have highlighted that FTO and ALKBH5 play an oncogenic role in various cancers, such as acute myeloid leukemias (AML), glioblastoma, and breast cancer. Moreover, studies in vitro and in mouse models confirmed that FTO-specific inhibitors exhibited anti-tumor effects in several cancers. Accumulating evidence has suggested the possibility of FTO and ALKBH5 as therapeutic targets for specific diseases. In this review, we aim to illustrate the structural properties of these two m6A demethylases and the development of their specific inhibitors. Additionally, this review will summarize the biological functions of these two m6A demethylases in various types of cancers and other human diseases.

Structural characteristics of small-molecule inhibitors targeting FTO demethylase

Studies have shown that the FTO gene is closely related to obesity and weight gain in humans. FTO is an N⁶-methyladenosine demethylase and is linked to an increased risk of obesity and a variety of diseases, such as acute myeloid leukemia, type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, glioblastoma and cervical squamous cell carcinoma. In light of the significant role of FTO, the development of small-molecule inhibitors targeting the FTO protein provides not only a powerful tool for grasping the active site of FTO but also a theoretical basis for the design and synthesis of drugs targeting the FTO protein. This review focuses on the structural characteristics of FTO inhibitors and discusses the occurrence of obesity and cancer caused by FTO gene overexpression.

Exploration of fluorescence behavior of an imidazolium-based chemosensor in solution and in the solid state and its turn-on response to Al3+ in pure aqueous medium

An imidazolium-based quinoline framework is constructed, and its fluorescence behaviour studies with fluorescence turn-on chemosensory response to the selective detection of Al³⁺ in aqueous medium are discussed in detail.

Microwave-Assisted One-Pot Synthesis of Indole-Based Fluorescent Probe for Sensitive Detection of Copper (II)

In this study, a rapid, inexpensive and convenient microwave assisted synthesis of indole-3-propionic acid-bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (IPA-SR3) fluorescent probe was developed. This fluorescent probe has the dual illumination characteristics of photoinduced electron transfer and aggregation-induced emission for the specific detection of Cu²⁺ ion in water. The wavelength-dependent photoluminescence behavior of the aggregated IPA-SR3 was highly selective (Ksv = 1.5 × 104 M^-1) and sensitive in Cu²⁺ ion detection, with a low limit of detection (2.9 μM). Therefore, it can be used to detect low-concentration Cu²⁺ in water samples. Details of the synthesis procedure and fluorescence characteristics are presented herein. Graphical Abstract.