Targeting Epigenetic Regulators with HDAC and BET Inhibitors to Modulate Muscle Wasting

Novel 5-(Trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole-Based Pyrimidin-4-ether Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors for Controlling Rust Disease: Design, Synthesis, Activity, and Structure-Activity Relationship

Rust disease, an important plant pathogen, can lead to reduced crop or fruit production. Trifluoromethyloxadiazole (TFMO) is a class of histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACs). Herein, a series of 5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole (TFMO)-based pyrimidin-4-ether derivatives were designed and synthesized. Antirust bioassay results of TFMOs showed that some of them possessed excellent activities against plant rust pathogens, such as Puccinia sorghi, Phakopsora pachyrhizi, and Puccinia rubigo. The most active compound, 3-(5-(((6-(difluoromethyl)pyrimidin-4-yl)oxy)methyl)thiophen-2-yl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole (XII6), exhibited 50% control against P. pachyrhizi at 0.780 mg/L, which was significantly better than the commercial fungicide azoxystrobin (0%) at the same concentration. The field trial results indicated that the compound exhibited an excellent control effect against P. rubigo at 116 g a.i./ha. The acute toxic results indicated that compound XII6 has low toxicity. Furthermore, the enzyme activity results showed that compound XII6 is a strong, nonselective HDAC inhibitor. Finally, the structure-activity relationship was established, and the compound XII6-HDAC binding mode was carried out based on the crystal structure of hHDAC1, hHDAC4, and hHDAC6. This work provided an excellent fungicide against rust for further optimization.

Epigenetics of Skeletal Muscle Atrophy

Skeletal muscle atrophy, characterized by diminished muscle strength and mass, arises from various causes, including malnutrition, aging, nerve damage, and disease-related secondary atrophy. Aging markedly escalates the prevalence of sarcopenia. Concurrently, the incidence of muscle atrophy significantly rises among patients with chronic ailments such as heart failure, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Epigenetics plays a pivotal role in skeletal muscle atrophy. Aging elevates methylation levels in the promoter regions of specific genes within muscle tissues. This aberrant methylation is similarly observed in conditions like diabetes, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to explore the relationship between epigenetics and skeletal muscle atrophy, thereby enhancing the understanding of its pathogenesis and uncovering novel therapeutic strategies.

AI in Pharma: Transforming Drug Discovery and Strategic Management with MYC-Modulating Compounds and BET Protein Inhibitors

The landscape of pharmaceutical R&D is being reshaped by the synergistic integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and groundbreaking drug discoveries, mainly focusing on MYC-modulating compounds and BET protein inhibitors. This Patent Highlight delves into this convergence, illustrating a transformative shift in the pharmaceutical industry's approach to drug development, strategic management, and treating various diseases, from cancer to inflammatory and fibrotic disorders.