Sulphostin, a novel inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidases IV (DPPIV) that stimulates hematopoiesis in mice

Natural Products Containing a Nitrogen-Sulfur Bond

Only about 100 natural products are known to contain a nitrogen-sulfur (N-S) bond. This review thoroughly categorizes N-S bond-containing compounds by structural class. Information on biological source, biological activity, and biosynthesis is included, if known. We also review the role of N-S bond functional groups as post-translational modifications of amino acids in proteins and peptides, emphasizing their role in the metabolism of the cell.

Recent Advances in Dipeptidyl-Peptidase-4 Inhibition Therapy: Lessons from the Bench and Clinical Trials

DPP4 inhibitors (DPP4i) are a class of newly developed antidiabetic drugs which preserve incretin hormones and promote postprandial insulin secretion. Although the cardiovascular effect of DPP4 inhibition has been substantially studied, the exact role of DPP4 in cardiovascular disease especially in humans remains elusive. Previous small studies and meta-analyses have suggested a benefit in both surrogate outcomes and cardiovascular events for these agents. However, there was growing evidence in recent years questioning the cardioprotective effect of DPP4i. Further, a signal of heart failure hospitalization in a recent large scale clinical trial SAVOR-TIMI 53 has called into question the safety of these agents and their utility in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. In this review, we will revisit the physiologic function of DPP4 and discuss its role in cardiometabolic disease based on recent experimental and clinical studies.

Recent approaches to medicinal chemistry and therapeutic potential of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) is one of the widely explored novel targets for Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) currently. Research has been focused on the strategy to preserve the endogenous glucagon like peptide (GLP)-1 activity by inhibiting the DPP-4 action. The DPP-4 inhibitors are weight neutral, well tolerated and give better glycaemic control over a longer duration of time compared to existing conventional therapies. The journey of DPP-4 inhibitors in the market started from the launch of sitagliptin in 2006 to latest drug teneligliptin in 2012. This review is mainly focusing on the recent medicinal aspects and advancements in the designing of DPP-4 inhibitors with the therapeutic potential of DPP-4 as a target to convey more clarity in the diffused data.

Comprehensive investigation of marine Actinobacteria associated with the sponge Halichondria panicea

Representatives of Actinobacteria were isolated from the marine sponge Halichondria panicea collected from the Baltic Sea (Germany). For the first time, a comprehensive investigation was performed with regard to phylogenetic strain identification, secondary metabolite profiling, bioactivity determination, and genetic exploration of biosynthetic genes, especially concerning the relationships of the abundance of biosynthesis gene fragments to the number and diversity of produced secondary metabolites. All strains were phylogenetically identified by 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses and were found to belong to the genera Actinoalloteichus, Micrococcus, Micromonospora, Nocardiopsis, and Streptomyces. Secondary metabolite profiles of 46 actinobacterial strains were evaluated, 122 different substances were identified, and 88 so far unidentified compounds were detected. The extracts from most of the cultures showed biological activities. In addition, the presence of biosynthesis genes encoding polyketide synthases (PKSs) and nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) in 30 strains was established. It was shown that strains in which either PKS or NRPS genes were identified produced a significantly higher number of metabolites and exhibited a larger number of unidentified, possibly new metabolites than other strains. Therefore, the presence of PKS and NRPS genes is a good indicator for the selection of strains to isolate new natural products.