2-Naphthol Moiety of Neocarzinostatin Chromophore as a Novel Protein-Photodegrading Agent and Its Application as a H2 O2 -Activatable Photosensitizer

A 2-naphthol derivative 2 corresponding to the aromatic ring moiety of neocarzinostatin chromophore was found to degrade proteins under photo-irradiation with long-wavelength UV light without any additives under neutral conditions. Structure-activity relationship studies of the derivative revealed that methylation of the hydroxyl group at the C2 position of 2 significantly suppressed its photodegradation ability. Furthermore, a purpose-designed synthetic tumor-related biomarker, a H₂ O₂ -activatable photosensitizer 8 possessing a H₂ O₂ -responsive arylboronic ester moiety conjugated to the hydroxyl group at the C2 position of 2, showed significantly lower photodegradation ability compared to 2. However, release of the 2 from 8 by reaction with H₂ O₂ regenerated the photodegradation ability. Compound 8 exhibited selective photo-cytotoxicity against high H₂ O₂ -expressing cancer cells upon irradiation with long-wavelength UV light.

Photodegradation of porphyrin-bound hIAPP(1–37) fibrils

Amyloid deposits in pancreatic islets of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are mainly comprised of human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP), the degradation of hIAPP fibrils by photoactive porphyrin could be a preventive strategy against T2DM.

Porphyrins in troubled times: a spotlight on porphyrins and their metal complexes for explosives testing and CBRN defense

A critical perspective on (metallo)porphyrins in security-related applications: the past, present and future of explosives detection, CBRN defense, and beyond.

Degradation of HaloTag-fused nuclear proteins using bestatin-HaloTag ligand hybrid molecules

We have developed a protein knockdown technology using hybrid small molecules designed as conjugates of a ligand for the target protein and a ligand for ubiquitin ligase cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein 1 (cIAP1). However, this technology has several limitations. Here, we report the development of a novel protein knockdown system to address these limitations. In this system, target proteins are fused with HaloTag to provide a common binding site for a degradation inducer. We designed and synthesized small molecules consisting of alkyl chloride as the HaloTag-binding degradation inducer, which binds to HaloTag, linked to BE04 (2), which binds to cIAP1. Using this system, we successfully knocked down HaloTag-fused cAMP responsive element binding protein 1 (HaloTag-CREB1) and HaloTag-fused c-jun (HaloTag-c-jun), which are ligand-unknown nuclear proteins, in living cells. HaloTag-binding degradation inducers can be synthesized easily, and are expected to be useful as biological tools for pan-degradation of HaloTag-fused proteins.

Efficient protein knockdown of HaloTag-fused proteins using hybrid molecules consisting of IAP antagonist and HaloTag ligand

We previously reported a protein knockdown system for HaloTag-fused proteins using hybrid small molecules consisting of alkyl chloride, which binds covalently to HaloTag, linked to BE04 (2), a bestatin (3) derivative with an affinity for cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein 1 (cIAP1, a kind of ubiquitin ligase). This system addressed several limitations of prior protein knockdown technology, and was applied to degrade two HaloTag-fused proteins. However, the degradation activity of these hybrid small molecules was not potent. Therefore, we set out to improve this system. We report here the design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel hybrid compounds 4a and 4b consisting of alkyl chloride linked to IAP antagonist MV1 (5). Compounds 4a and 4b were confirmed to reduce the levels of HaloTag-fused tumor necrosis factor α (HaloTag-TNFα), HaloTag-fused cell division control protein 42 (HaloTag-Cdc42), and unfused HaloTag protein in living cells more potently than did BE04-linked compound 1b. Analysis of the mode of action revealed that the reduction of HaloTag-TNFα is proteasome-dependent, and is also dependent on the linker structure between MV1 (5) and alkyl chloride. These compounds appear to induce ubiquitination at the HaloTag moiety of HaloTag-fused proteins. Our results indicate that these newly synthesized MV1-type hybrid compounds, 4a and 4b, are efficient tools for protein knockdown for HaloTag-fused proteins.

Photodegradation of amyloid β and reduction of its cytotoxicity to PC12 cells using porphyrin derivatives

A purpose-designed porphyrin-peptide hybrid effectively degraded amyloid β monomer and oligomers associated with Alzheimer's disease. Degradation was achieved using light irradiation in the absence of any additives and under neutral conditions. Moreover, the hybrid effectively neutralized the cytotoxicity of amyloid β in PC12 cells upon photoirradiation.

One-step synthesis of α-Gal epitope and globotriose derivatives by an engineered α-galactosidase

A novel method for synthesis of α-Gal epitope and globotriose derivatives by an engineered α-galactosidase through a one-enzyme one-step reaction.