The microtubule-stabilizing agent, epothilone D, reduces axonal dysfunction, neurotoxicity, cognitive deficits, and Alzheimer-like pathology in an interventional study with aged tau transgenic mice.

Neurodegenerative tauopathies, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), are characterized by insoluble deposits of hyperphosphorylated tau protein within brain neurons. Increased phosphorylation and decreased solubility has been proposed to diminish normal tau stabilization of microtubules (MTs), thereby leading to neuronal dysfunction. Earlier studies have provided evidence that small molecule MT-stabilizing drugs that are used in the treatment of cancer may have utility in the treatment of tauopathies. However, it has not been established whether treatment with a small molecule MT-stabilizing compound will provide benefit in a transgenic model with pre-existing tau pathology, as would be seen in human patients with clinical symptoms. Accordingly, we describe here an interventional study of the brain-penetrant MT-stabilizing agent, epothilone D (EpoD), in aged PS19 mice with existing tau pathology and related behavioral deficits. EpoD treatment reduced axonal dystrophy and increased axonal MT density in the aged PS19 mice, which led to improved fast axonal transport and cognitive performance. Moreover, the EpoD-treated PS19 mice had less forebrain tau pathology and increased hippocampal neuronal integrity, with no dose-limiting side effects. These data reveal that brain-penetrant MT-stabilizing drugs hold promise for the treatment of AD and related tauopathies, and that EpoD could be a candidate for clinical testing.

Differential signaling properties at the kappa opioid receptor of 12-epi-salvinorin A and its analogues.

The kappa opioid receptor (KOPR) has been identified as a potential drug target to prevent or alter the course of mood, anxiety and addictive disorders or reduce response to stress. In a search for highly potent and selective KOPR partial agonists as pharmacological tools, we have modified 12-epi-salvinorin A, a compound which we have previously observed to be a KOPR partial agonist. Five analogues of 12-epi-salvinorin A were synthesized and their effects on G protein activation as well as ß-arrestin2 recruitment were evaluated. Only 12-epi-salvinorin A (1) partially activated signaling through G proteins, yet acted as a full agonist in the ß-arrestin 2 DiscoveRx assay. Other salvinorin analogues tested in these functional assays were full agonists in both assays of KOPR activation. By comparison, the non-selective opioid ligand nalbuphine, known to be a partial agonist for G-protein activation, was also a partial agonist for the ß-arrestin mediated signaling pathway activated through KOPR.

A Formal Total Synthesis of (-)-Brevisamide.

A formal total synthesis of (-)-brevisamide has been achieved. The synthetic approach highlights a chemoselective asymmetric dihydroxylation and a one-pot Fraser-Reid epoxidation/PMB protection reaction sequence.

The characterization of microtubule-stabilizing drugs as possible therapeutic agents for Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies.

Tau, a protein that is enriched in neurons of the central nervous system (CNS), is thought to play a critical role in the stabilization of microtubules (MTs). Several neurodegenerative disorders referred to as tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease and certain types of frontotemporal lobar degeneration, are characterized by the intracellular accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau fibrils. Tau deposition into insoluble aggregates is believed to result in a loss of tau function that leads to MT destabilization, and this could cause neurodegeneration as intact MTs are required for axonal transport and normal neuron function. This tau loss-of-function hypothesis has been validated in a tau transgenic mouse model with spinal cord tau inclusions, where the MT-stabilizing agent, paclitaxel, increased spinal nerve MT density and improved motor function after drug absorption at neuromuscular junctions. Unfortunately, paclitaxel is a P-glycoprotein substrate and has poor blood-brain barrier permeability, making it unsuitable for the treatment of human tauopathies. We therefore examined several MT-stabilizing compounds from the taxane and epothilone natural product families to assess their membrane permeability and to determine whether they act as substrates or inhibitors of P-glycoprotein. Moreover, we compared brain and plasma levels of the compounds after administration to mice. Finally, we assessed whether brain-penetrant compounds could stabilize mouse CNS MTs. We found that several epothilones have significantly greater brain penetration than the taxanes. Furthermore, certain epothilones cause an increase in CNS MT stabilization, with epothilone D demonstrating a favorable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile which suggests this agent merits further study as a potential tauopathy drug candidate.

Epothilone D improves microtubule density, axonal integrity, and cognition in a transgenic mouse model of tauopathy.

Neurons in the brains of those with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and many frontotemporal dementias (FTDs) contain neurofibrillary tangles comprised of hyperphosphorylated tau protein. Tau normally stabilizes microtubules (MTs), and tau misfolding could lead to a loss of this function with consequent MT destabilization and neuronal dysfunction. Accordingly, a possible therapeutic strategy for AD and related "tauopathies" is treatment with a MT-stabilizing anti-cancer drug such as paclitaxel. However, paclitaxel and related taxanes have poor blood-brain barrier permeability and thus are unsuitable for diseases of the brain. We demonstrate here that the MT-stabilizing agent, epothilone D (EpoD), is brain-penetrant and we subsequently evaluated whether EpoD can compensate for tau loss-of-function in PS19 tau transgenic mice that develop forebrain tau inclusions, axonal degeneration and MT deficits. Treatment of 3-month-old male PS19 mice with low doses of EpoD once weekly for a 3 month period significantly improved CNS MT density and axonal integrity without inducing notable side-effects. Moreover, EpoD treatment reduced cognitive deficits that were observed in the PS19 mice. These results suggest that certain brain-penetrant MT-stabilizing agents might provide a viable therapeutic strategy for the treatment of AD and FTDs.

Stereocontrolled synthesis of spiroketals via Ti(Oi-Pr)4-mediated kinetic spirocyclization of glycal epoxides with retention of configuration.

A Ti(Oi-Pr)4-mediated kinetic spiroketalization reaction has been developed for the stereocontrolled target- and diversity-oriented synthesis of spiroketals. In contrast to most existing methods for spiroketal synthesis, this reaction does not rely upon thermodynamic control over the stereochemical configuration at the anomeric carbon. Stereochemically diverse glycals are first alkylated at the C1-position to introduce a hydroxyl-bearing side chain, then epoxidized stereoselectively. Treatment with Ti(Oi-Pr)4 leads to an unusual kinetic epoxide-opening spirocyclization (spirocycloisomerization) with retention of configuration at the anomeric carbon. The reaction is proposed to proceed via a chelation-controlled mechanism and has been used to form five-, six-, and seven-membered rings with stereochemically diverse substituents. This approach may also be useful for the related intermolecular beta-mannosidation reaction. This Ti(Oi-Pr)4-mediated spirocyclization is stereochemically complementary to our previously reported MeOH-induced spirocyclization, which proceeds with inversion of configuration, and together, these reactions provide comprehensive access to systematically stereochemically diversified spiroketals.

Stereocontrolled synthesis of spiroketals via a remarkable methanol-induced kinetic spirocyclization reaction.

A methanol-induced kinetic spiroketalization reaction has been developed for the stereocontrolled target- and diversity-oriented synthesis of spiroketals. In contrast to existing methods for spiroketal synthesis, this reaction does not depend on thermodynamic product stability or require axial attack of an oxygen nucleophile. Stereodiverse glycals are alkylated at the C1 position with side chains bearing protected hydroxyl groups. After alcohol deprotection, the glycal is epoxidized stereoselectively, then the side chain hydroxyl is spirocyclized with inversion of configuration at the anomeric carbon by addition of excess MeOH at -63 degrees C. This spirocyclization reaction appears to proceed by MeOH hydrogen-bonding catalysis and has been used to form five- and six-membered rings with stereoisomeric substituents. In some cases, the stereocomplementary spiroketals can be also obtained by classical acid-catalyzed equilibration.