Relative and Absolute Stereochemistries and Total Synthesis of (+)-Macrosphelides A and B, Potent, Orally Bioavailable Inhibitors of Cell−Cell Adhesion

Discovery, Total Synthesis, and Anti-Inflammatory Evaluation of Naturally Occurring Naphthopyrone-Macrolide Hybrids as Potent NLRP3 Inflammasome Inhibitors

Numerous clinical disorders have been linked to the etiology of dysregulated NLRP3 (NACHT, LRR, and PYD domain-containing protein 3) inflammasome activation. Despite its potential as a pharmacological target, modulation of NLRP3 activity remains challenging. Only a sparse number of compounds have been reported that can modulate NLRP3 and none of them have been developed into a commercially available drug. In this research, we identified three potent NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors, gymnoasins A-C (1-3), with unprecedented pentacyclic scaffolds, from an Antarctic fungus Pseudogymnoascus sp. HDN17-895, which represent the first naturally occurring naphthopyrone-macrolide hybrids. Additionally, biomimetic synthesis of gymnoasin A (1) was also achieved validating the chemical structure and affording ample amounts of material for exhaustive bioactivity assessments. Biological assays indicated that 1 could significantly inhibited in vitro NLRP3 inflammasome activation and in vivo pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β release, representing a valuable new lead compound for the development of novel therapeutics with the potential to inhibit the NLRP3 inflammasome.

Design and Synthesis of Anti-Cancer Chimera Molecules Based on Marine Natural Products

In this paper, the chemical conjugation of marine natural products with other bioactive molecules for developing an advanced anti-cancer agent is described. Structural complexity and the extraordinary biological features of marine natural products have led to tremendous research in isolation, structural elucidation, synthesis, and pharmacological evaluation. In addition, this basic scientific achievement has made it possible to hybridize two or more biologically important skeletons into a single compound. The hybridization strategy has been used to identify further opportunities to overcome certain limitations, such as structural complexity, scarcity problems, poor solubility, severe toxicity, and weak potency of marine natural products for advanced development in drug discovery. Further, well-designed marine chimera molecules can function as a platform for target discovery or degradation. In this review, the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of recent marine chimera molecules are presented.

Naturally occurring cell adhesion inhibitors

This paper reviews naturally occurring cell adhesion inhibitors derived from a plant, microbial and marine origin. Plant-derived inhibitors are classified according to a type of structure. Microbially and marine-derived inhibitors were described according to age. In addition, effects of inhibitors on cell proliferation and that of standards on cell adhesion are listed as much as possible.

Development of advanced macrosphelides: potent anticancer agents

Synthetic approaches to macrosphelide derivatives, based on medicinal chemistry, are summarized. This review contains conventional medicinal chemistry approaches, combinatorial chemistry, fluorous tagging techniques and affinity chromatography preparation. In addition, advances in their apoptosis-inducing activities are also included.

Synthetic advances in macrosphelides: natural anticancer agents

Total synthesis of macrosphelides is summarized. Synthetic approaches contain the preparation of key fragments and the final ring-closure reaction for unique 16- or 15-membered macrolactone skeletons.

Development of an advanced synthetic route to macrosphelides and its application to the discovery of a more potent macrosphelide derivative

The discovery of a more cytotoxic macrosphelide derivative, including its total synthesis and bioassay are described. Application of the Koide protocol to a readily available propagylic alcohol allowed the rapid and practical synthesis of a macrosphelide A skeleton. This strategy enabled the successful improvement of the cytotoxic activity of the macrosphelide derivative.

Binary fluorous tagging enables the synthesis and separation of a 16-stereoisomer library of macrosphelides

Fluorous mixture synthesis minimizes the effort to synthesize small-molecule libraries by labelling the molecules rather than the reaction vessels. Reactants are labelled with fluorinated tags and products can later be demixed based on the fluorine content. A limit in the number of available tags can be overcome by using binary encoding so that a total of four tags can label uniquely a library of 16 compounds. This strategy, however, means that separation based on fluorine content alone is not possible. Here, we solve this problem by selectively removing one tag after an initial demixing step; a second demixing provides each individual compound. The usefulness of this strategy is demonstrated by the synthesis of a library that contains all 16 diastereomers of the natural products macrosphelides A and E. Macrosphelide D was not in this library, and so its assigned structure was incorrect. We determined its constitution by using NMR spectroscopy and its configuration by synthesizing four candidate stereoisomers.

Synthetic studies on bioactive natural polyketides: intramolecular nitrile oxide-olefin cycloaddition approach for construction of a macrolactone skeleton of macrosphelide B

Studies on the synthesis of macrosphelide B via an intramolecular nitrile oxide-olefin cycloaddition (INOC) is described. In particular, an asymmetric INOC approach using phase transfer catalysts seems to be a potentially efficient and versatile procedure for the construction of the macrolactone skeleton of macrosphelide B in terms of facial selectivity. Our preliminary and unprecedented stereoselective procedure is anticipated to be usefully applied through further studies for the synthesis of the macrosphelide family.

Asymmetric total synthesis and revision of the absolute configuration of 4-keto-clonostachydiol

The first total synthesis of the 14-membered natural macrocyclic bislactone 4-keto-clonostachydiol, along with its enantiomer, has been accomplished in 13 steps with overall yields of 8.4% and 8.0%, respectively. The absolute configuration of 4-keto-clonostachydiol 1 has been revised as (5S,10S,13S).

Efficient total synthesis of novel bioactive microbial metabolites

Bioactive natural products produced by microbes have almost limitless potential in pharmaceutical applications, and the organic synthesis of such products as lead compounds will result in the creation of new and widely useful pharmaceutical products. A program of discovery of naturally occurring bioactive microbial metabolites has been ongoing at the Kitasato Institute. We have also developed efficient, rational, and highly flexible production methods for generation of target compounds, synthesis of related compounds, elucidation of their structure-activity relationships, and the possible creation of improved bioactive compounds. In this Account, the isolation and total synthesis of naturally occurring bioactive microbial metabolites in order to create novel medicines for specific illnesses is described. This covers diseases and conditions such as atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, inflammation, and osteoporosis, among others, and focuses on six specific compounds. Pyripyropenes were discovered from Aspergillus fumigatus FO-1289 through our screening of microbial metabolites that strongly inhibit acyl-CoA cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) in order to develop a new class of cholesterol-lowering agents. These novel polyoxygenated mixed polyketide-terpenoid (meroterpenoid) metabolites contain a fused pyridyl alpha-pyrone moiety. We carried out the first total synthesis of (+)-pyripyropene A via a flexible, concise, and highly efficient route and also clarified the structure-activity relationships. Arisugacins were discovered from Penicillium sp. FO-4259 by our screening of microbial metabolites that strongly inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in order to create novel medicines for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Arisugacins are also meroterpenoids. We have achieved the first convergent total synthesis of arisugacins A and B. Lactacystin was isolated from Streptomyces sp. OM-6519 via our screening of microbial metabolites that promote the differentiation of the neuroblastoma cell to further discover new AD medicines. Lactacystin has a novel gamma-lactam thioester structure and is also a selective and strong proteasome inhibitor. We have developed a concise approach to synthesize lactacystin designed to afford easy access to the original compound and a variety of analogs. Macrosphelides were isolated from Microsphaeropsis sp. FO-5050 from our screening of microbial metabolites that inhibit the adhesion of HL-60 cells to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Macrosphelides are the first 16-membered macrotriolides. Macrosphelides prevent cell-cell adhesion by inhibiting the binding of sialyl Lewis X to E-selectin. We have accomplished the first efficient total synthesis of macrosphelides. Madindolines were isolated from Streptomyces nitrosporeus K93-0711 by our program to discover new interleukin 6 (IL-6) modulators. Madindolines are comprised of a 3a-hydroxyfuroindoline ring connected at nitrogen via a methylene bridge to a cyclopentene-1,3-dione ring. We have developed an efficient and practical total synthesis of madindolines. Madindoline A binds to gp130 selectively and inhibits IL-6 activity. Neoxaline was isolated from Aspergillus japonicus Fg-551. Neoxaline is a member of a novel class of biologically active indole alkaloids characterized by a unique indoline spiroaminal framework and binds to tubulin, which results in inhibition of tubulin polymerization. We have developed a concise stereoselective synthesis of the indoline spiroaminal framework of neoxaline.

Concerning the selective protection of (Z)-1,5-syn-ene-diols and (E)-1,5-anti-ene-diols as allylic triethylsilyl ethers

Treatment of unsaturated 1,5-diols 2 with TES-Cl (1.1 equiv), imidazole, and catalytic DMAP in 1:1 CH2Cl2-DMF at -78 degrees C effects selective silylation of the allylic alcohol with >95:5 chemoselectivity when the allylic and homoallylic alcohols are in similar steric environments.

Concise Syntheses of (+)-Macrosphelides A and B

[reaction: see text]. Unified and highly convergent total syntheses of (+)-macrosphelides A and B are described. Key features of the syntheses include (1) concise synthesis of the optically active delta-hydroxy-gamma-keto alpha,beta-unsaturated acid fragment via the direct addition of a trans-vinylogous ester anion equivalent to the readily available Weinreb amide and (2) facile construction of the 16-membered macrolide core of the macrosphelide series via an intramolecular nitrile-oxide cycloaddition (INOC).

Total Synthesis of Macrosphelides A, B, and E: First Application of Ring-Closing Metathesis for Macrosphelide Synthesis

A new synthetic route for macrosphelides A, B, and E based on ring-closing metathesis (RCM) was established. The substrates for RCM could be synthesized starting from commercially available chiral materials, methyl (S)-lactate and methyl (S)- or (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate, in good overall yields. In the investigation of the key RCM step, it was found that the steric factor around the reaction site significantly affected the reaction rate of macrocyclization. A detailed account regarding this synthetic study is described herein.

New strategy for the total synthesis of macrosphelides a and B based on ring-closing metathesis

[reaction: see text] A new total synthesis of macrosphelides A and B using ring-closing metathesis (RCM) as a macrocyclization step is described. The substrate of the RCM could be synthesized from readily available chiral materials, methyl (S)-(+)-3-hydroxybutyrate and methyl (S)-(-)-lactate, with a high efficiency. The RCM proceeded in the presence of Grubbs' Ru-complex, providing a new effective synthetic route to these natural products.

Total synthesis of (+)-macrosphelides A, C, E, F, and G based on enzymatic function

The total synthesis of (+)-macrosphelide A (1) (18.5% overall yield in 11 steps), (+)-macrosphelide C (2) (25% overall yield in 9 steps), (+)-macrosphelide E (3) (23.9% overall yield in 11 steps), (+)-macrosphelide F (4) (20% overall yield in 9 steps), and (+)-macrosphelide G (5) (22% overall yield in 9 steps) was achieved from a chemoenzymatic reaction product (4R,5S)-4-benzyloxy-5-hydroxy-2(E)-hexenoate 10.

Production of macrosphelide A by the mycoparasite Coniothyrium minitans

Coniothyrium minitans, a mycoparasite of sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Sclerotium cepivorum, produced four closely related metabolites inhibitory to fungal growth. The major metabolite, identified as macrosphelide A, had IG(50) values (the concentration of metabolite to inhibit growth by 50%) of 46.6 and 2.9 microgram ml(-1) against S. sclerotiorum and S. cepivorum, respectively. This is the first report of both antifungal activity due to macrosphelide A as well as isolation of macrosphelide A from C. minitans.

Biological activity of a novel nonpeptide antagonist to the interleukin-6 receptor 20S,21-epoxy-resibufogenin-3-formate

Interleukin (IL)-6 is a key mediator in the regulation and coordination of the immune response and participates in pathogenesis of cancer cachexia, autoimmune disease, and postmenopausal osteoporosis. In the course of a screening program aimed at IL-6 inhibitor from natural products, we isolated 20S,21-epoxy-resibufogenin-3-formate (ERBF) from bufadienolide and examined the effect of ERBF on activities of various cytokines. ERBF dose dependently suppressed IL-6 activity and caused a parallel rightward shift of dose-response curves to IL-6 at concentrations of 0.03 to 10 ng/ml. Analysis of data yields a pA(2) of 5.12 and a slope of 0.99. Selectivity of ERBF on activity of cytokines was examined using cytokine-dependent cell lines. ERBF did not affect IL-2-dependent growth of CTLL-2 cells, IL-3-dependent growth of Baf3 cells, or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)alpha-induced growth suppression in TNFalpha-sensitive L929 cells. ERBF also did not affect IL-4-stimulated expression of FcepsilonR II receptor (CD23) in U-937 cells, the IL-8-induced chemotaxis of human neutrophils, or nerve growth factor-stimulated neuronal differentiation in PC-12 cells. In contrast, ERBF dose dependently suppressed IL-6-induced neuronal differentiation in PC-12 cells. Furthermore, ERBF suppressed only IL-6-induced osteoclast formation without affecting osteoclast formation induced by IL-11, leukemia inhibitory factor, and 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3). In receptor binding assay, unbound (free) IL-6 was increased in a dose-dependent manner by pretreatment with ERBF on IL-6 receptor (IL-6R), suggesting that ERBF suppresses binding of IL-6 to IL-6R. These results clearly indicate that ERBF is a novel specific small molecule to show IL-6 receptor antagonist activity.

Synthesis and V-ATPase inhibition of simplified lobatamide analogues

[structure: see text] Simplified analogues of the lobatamides have been synthesized and evaluated for inhibition of bovine V-ATPase. The salicylate phenol, enamide NH, and the ortho-substitution of the salicylate ester have been shown to be important for V-ATPase inhibitory activity.