TG101209, a small molecule JAK2-selective kinase inhibitor potently inhibits myeloproliferative disorder-associated JAK2V617F and MPLW515L/K mutations

JAK2V617F and MPLW515L/K represent recently identified mutations in myeloproliferative disorders (MPD) that cause dysregulated JAK-STAT signaling, which is implicated in MPD pathogenesis. We developed TG101209, an orally bioavailable small molecule that potently inhibits JAK2 (IC(50)=6 nM), FLT3 (IC(50)=25 nM) and RET (IC(50)=17 nM) kinases, with significantly less activity against other tyrosine kinases including JAK3 (IC(50)=169 nM). TG101209 inhibited growth of Ba/F3 cells expressing JAK2V617F or MPLW515L mutations with an IC(50) of approximately 200 nM. In a human JAK2V617F-expressing acute myeloid leukemia cell line, TG101209-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, and inhibited phosphorylation of JAK2V617F, STAT5 and STAT3. Therapeutic efficacy of TG101209 was demonstrated in a nude mouse model. Furthermore, TG101209 suppressed growth of hematopoietic colonies from primary progenitor cells harboring JAK2V617F or MPL515 mutations.

A simple model for the two dimensional blood flow in the collapse of veins

Veins in the cardiovascular system may collapse if the internal pressure is less than the external pressure. Such collapse or buckling will have important consequence in terms of the rate of blood flow. Here a steady, parallel unidirectional flow as an exact solution of the continuity and the Navier Stokes equations is constructed. Various stages of the deformation process of the elastic tube (before contact of opposite sides occurring), from an ellipse to a ;strongly buckled' configuration, are obtained in analytical forms as a by-product of the calculations. The pressure -- area and the pressure -- flow rate diagrams computed numerically from the model agree with the trends measured experimentally.

Structure-activity studies of FIV and HIV protease inhibitors containing allophenylnorstatine

The interaction of P1 and P3 side chains with the combining S1 and S3 hydrophobic subsites of HIV and FIV proteases has been explored using asymmetric competitive inhibitors. The inhibitors evaluated contained (2S,3S)-3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid (allophenylnorstatine) as the hydroxymethylcarbonyl isostere, (R)-5,5-dimethyl-1, 3-thiazolidine-4-carbonyl as P1', Val as P2 and P2' residues, and a variety of amino acids at the P3 and P3' positions. All inhibitors showed competitive inhibition of both enzymes with higher potency against the HIV protease in vitro. Within this series, 31 (VLE776) is the most effective inhibitor against FIV protease, and it contains Phe at P3, but no P3' residue. VLE776 also exhibited potent antiviral activities against the drug-resistant HIV mutants (G48V and V82F) and the TL3-resistant HIV mutants. Explanation of the inhibition activities was described. In addition, a new strategy was described for development of bifunctional inhibitors, which combine the protease inhibitor and another enzyme inhibitor in one molecule.

A strategy for the assembly of multiple porphyrin arrays based on the coordination chemistry of Ru-centered porphyrin pentamers

An approach which employs pentameric porphyrin arrays as building blocks toward larger porphyrin arrays is described. Two flexible, and one relatively rigid, Ru-centered porphyrin pentamers (1-3) were synthesized and fully characterized. Their potential as building blocks toward larger porphyrin arrays has been studied via their coordination chemistry using bidentate and tetradentate ligands. DABCO (diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) can bind two monomeric porphyrins but was found to be too small to allow the complete formation of a 10-porphyrin array. On the other hand, titration of a larger bridging dipyridyl porphyrin ligand 17 (0.5 equiv) with 1 or 2 and tetrapyridyl ligand 18 (0.25 equiv) with 3 results in the formation of the 11-porphyrin and 21-porphyrin arrays, respectively, with the 21-porphyrin array containing porphyrins in three different metalation states. Changes in the chemical shift of the inner NH protons as well as the ortho- and meso-protons of the pyridyl groups of the porphyrin ligand clearly indicate the formation of large multiple porphyrin complexes. These studies demonstrate that by use of carefully designed building blocks and suitable bridging ligands, porphyrin arrays can be constructed with a dramatic increase in size in relatively few steps. Exploiting the fact that the strength of binding of pyridyl ligands is Ru > Zn > Ni, intra- vs intermolecular competition has been used to investigate aspects of the folding of the array. The photophysical properties of 3 are also described.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of HIV/FIV protease inhibitors incorporating a conformationally constrained macrocycle with a small P3' residue

A series of norstatine-based HIV/FIV protease inhibitors incorporating a 15-membered macrocycle as a mimic of the tripeptide (Ala-Val-Phe), a motif with a small P3' residue elective against the FIV protease and the drug-resistant HIV proteases, has been synthesized. It was found that the macrocycle is important to the overall activity of the inhibitors. Certain inhibitors were developed expressing low nanomolar inhibitory activity against the HIV/FIV proteases and they are also effective against some drug-resistant as well as TL3-resistant HIV proteases.

Directed evolution of D-2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate aldolase to new variants for the efficient synthesis of D- and L-sugars

BACKGROUND

Exploitation and improvement of enzymes as catalysts for organic synthesis is of current interest in biocatalysis. A representative enzyme for investigation is the Escherichia coli D-2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate (KDPG) aldolase, which catalyzes the highly specific reversible aldol reaction using the D-configurated KDPG as substrate.

RESULTS

Using in vitro evolution, the aldolase has been converted into aldolases with improved catalytic efficiency, altered substrate specificity and stereoselectivity. In particular, some evolved aldolases capable of accepting both D- and L- glyceraldehyde in the non-phosphorylated form as substrates for reversible aldol reaction have been obtained, providing a new direction to the enzymatic synthesis of both D- and L-sugars.

CONCLUSIONS

This research has demonstrated the effectiveness of using in vitro evolution to rapidly alter the properties of an aldolase to improve its utility in asymmetric synthesis. The evolved aldolases, differing from the native enzyme which is highly phosphate- and D-sugar-dependent, catalyze the efficient synthesis of both D- and L-sugars from non-phosphorylated aldehydes and pyruvate. The principles and strategies described in this study should be applicable to other aldolases to further expand the scope of their synthetic utility.