[Transformation of endogenous reactive oxygen species participates into bacterial antibiotic resistance].

A growing body of diversified antibiotic resistances raises a significant challenge to anti-infection clinical therapeutics. The emergence of superbugs carrying MCR-1/2 or NDM-1 determinants underlines the importance and urgency in elucidation of molecular mechanisms shared by antibiotic resistances. It is aware that different classes of bactericidal antibiotics consistently stimulate the production of deleterious reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are accompanied with metabolic disturbance. The different destinations of ROS determine its consequence on bacterial fate. Here, we review antibiotic-induced production, progression and transformation of ROS, as well as its role in the development of antibiotic resistance. Additionally, we anticipate that mesosome-like structures-aided exclusion of hydrogen peroxide might represent a previously-unknown mechanism for antibiotic resistance. This mini-review is aiming to present an update overview on antibiotic resistance and provide clues to the development of novel antibiotics.

Excitons in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides.

We theoretically investigate the exciton formed with two massive Dirac particles in monolayer [Formula: see text] and other transition metal dichalcogenides as well as two layers separated by a dielectric layer. In the low-energy limit, the separation of the center-of-mass and relative motions is obtained. Analytical solutions for the exciton wave function and energy dispersion are obtained including the Coulomb interaction between electron and hole, the exciton Bohr radius, binding energy and its effective mass are obtained in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides. In the case of two monolayers separated by a dielectric layer, we find that the exciton effective mass can be continuously tuned by the interlayer separation.

Prediction of disease-related microRNAs by incorporating functional similarity and common association information.

The identification of human disease-related microRNAs (miRNAs) is important for understanding the pathogenesis of diseases, but to do this experimentally is a costly and time-consuming process. Computational prediction of disease-related miRNA candidates is a valuable complement to experimental studies. It is essential to develop an effective prediction method to provide reliable candidates for subsequent biological experiments. In this study, we constructed a miRNA functional similarity network based on calculation of the functional similarity between each pair of miRNAs. Here, we present a new method (DismiPred) for predicting disease-related miRNA candidates based on the network. This method incorporates functional similarity and common association information to achieve an efficient prediction performance. DismiPred has been successfully shown to recover experimentally validated disease-related miRNAs for 12 common human diseases, with an F-measure ranging from 69.49 to 91.69%. Furthermore, a case study examining breast neoplasms showed that DismiPred could uncover novel disease-related miRNAs. DismiPred is useful for further experimental studies on the involvement of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of diseases.

Novel chemistry of alpha-tosyloxy ketones: applications to the solution- and solid-phase synthesis of privileged heterocycle and enediyne libraries.

New synthetic technologies for the preparation and elaboration of alpha-tosyloxy ketones in solution- and on solid-phase are described. Both olefins and ketones serve as precursors to these relatively stable chemical entities: olefins via a novel one-pot epoxidation, arylsulfonic acid displacement, and oxidation sequence, and ketones by direct exposure to arylsulfonic acids in the presence of diacetoxy iodobenzene. Reaction of these substrates with O-, S-, or N-centered nucleophiles leads to incorporation of the nucleophile with concomitant expulsion of the sulfonate, while exposure to bis-functional nucleophiles furnishes annulated heterocyclic systems. In addition, the reactions of carbon-centered nucleophiles with alpha-tosylyloxy ketones are also explored. The collated data for all these nucleophiles provide compelling evidence for the proposal that different reaction pathways are followed when alpha-tosyloxy ketones are engaged by "hard" versus "soft" nucleophiles. The accessibility and site-selectivity of the chemistry demonstrated herein offer the promise of an expanded use for this moiety in solid-phase library construction, in particular, and in the field of organic synthesis, in general.

Total synthesis of the CP-molecules (CP-263,114 and CP-225,917, phomoidrides B and A). 1. Racemic and asymmetric synthesis of bicyclo[4.3.1] key building blocks.

A brief introduction into the chemistry of the CP-molecules is followed by first-generation synthetic sequences toward key building blocks for their total synthesis. Processes for both racemic and enantiomerically enriched bicyclo[4.3.1] ketone 6 or its equivalent are described, and the absolute stereochemistries of the optically enriched intermediates are determined. The efficient route developed to racemic 6 and the ready access to both enantiomers of key building blocks provided the opportunity for the total synthesis of the CP-molecules and determination of their absolute stereochemistry.

Total synthesis of the CP-molecules (CP-263,114 and CP-225,917, phomoidrides B and A). 2. Model studies for the construction of key structural elements and first-generation strategy.

Crucial model synthetic and mechanistic studies directed toward the development of methodology for the construction of the maleic anhydride moiety of the CP-molecules are described. Studies directed toward the stereoselective attachment of the upper side chain, culminating in the discovery of long-range stereochemical control, are also discussed. In addition, a first-generation strategy toward the CP-molecules, establishing key intermediate 5 as a "beachhead" from which all future operations would diverge, is also presented. Although this first-generation strategy failed to yield the target molecules, the endeavor laid the important groundwork for the next-generation drives toward the CP-molecules.

Total synthesis of the CP-molecules (CP-263,114 and CP-225,917, phomoidrides B and A). 3. Completion and synthesis of advanced analogues.

The completion of the total syntheses of the CP-molecules is reported. Several strategies and tactics, including the use of amide-based protecting groups for the homologated C-29 carboxylic acid and the use of an internal pyran protecting group scheme, are discussed. The endeavors leading to the design of new methods for the homologation of hindered aldehydes and to the isolation of a polycyclic byproduct (23), which inspired the development of a new series of reactions based on iodine(V) reagents, are described. In addition, the discovery and development of the LiOH-mediated conversion of CP-263,114 (1) to CP-225,917 (2) is described, and a mechanistic rationale is presented. Finally, a synthetic route to complex analogues of the CP-molecules harboring a maleimide moiety in place of the maleic anhydride is presented.

Iodine(V) reagents in organic synthesis. Part 1. Synthesis of polycyclic heterocycles via Dess-Martin periodinane-mediated cascade cyclization: generality, scope, and mechanism of the reaction.

The scope, generality, and mechanism of the Dess-Martin periodinane-mediated cyclization reaction of unsaturated anilides discovered during the total synthesis of the CP-molecules (phomoidrides A and B) are delineated. A plethora of heterocyclic compounds are accessible by employing gamma,delta-unsaturated amides (derived from anilines and carboxylic acids), urethanes, or ureas (derived from isocyanates and allylic alcohols and amines) as substrates. Optimization of the reaction led to room-temperature conditions, while isotope labeling studies allowed a mechanistic rationale for this cascade reaction.

Iodine(V) reagents in organic synthesis. Part 2. Access to complex molecular architectures via Dess-Martin periodinane-generated o-imidoquinones.

o-Imidoquinones, a rather rare class of compounds, are prepared from anilides by the action of Dess-Martin periodinane (DMP) and water. Their chemistry has been extensively investigated and found to lead to p-quinones and polycyclic systems of diverse molecular architectures. Applications of this methodology to the total synthesis of the naturally occurring compounds, epoxyquinomycin B and BE-10988, are described. Finally, another rare chemical entity, the ketohydroxyamide moiety, has been accessed through this DMP-based synthetic technology, and its reactivity has been studied. Among its most useful reactions is a set of cascade heterocyclic annulations leading to a variety of polycyclic systems of possible biological relevance.

Iodine(V) reagents in organic synthesis. Part 4. o-Iodoxybenzoic acid as a chemospecific tool for single electron transfer-based oxidation processes.

o-Iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX), a readily available hypervalent iodine(V) reagent, was found to be highly effective in carrying out oxidations adjacent to carbonyl functionalities (to form alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds) and at benzylic and related carbon centers (to form conjugated aromatic carbonyl systems). Mechanistic investigations led to the conclusion that these new reactions are initiated by single electron transfer (SET) from the substrate to IBX to form a radical cation which reacts further to give the final products. Fine-tuning of the reaction conditions allowed remarkably selective transformations within multifunctional substrates, elevating the status of this reagent to that of a highly useful and chemoselective oxidant.

Iodine(V) reagents in organic synthesis. Part 3. New routes to heterocyclic compounds via o-iodoxybenzoic acid-mediated cyclizations: generality, scope, and mechanism.

The discovery and development of the o-iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) reaction with certain unsaturated N-aryl amides (anilides) to form heterocycles are described. The application of the method to the synthesis of delta-lactams, cyclic urethanes, hydroxy amines, and amino sugars among other important building blocks and intermediates is detailed. In addition to the generality and scope of this cyclization reaction, this article describes a number of mechanistic investigations suggesting a single electron transfer from the anilide functionality to IBX and implicating a radical-based mechanism for the reaction.

Novel strategies to construct the gamma-hydroxy lactone moiety of the CP molecules. Synthesis of the CP-225,917 core skeleton.

[formula: see text] The array of challenging structural lineaments embodied in the CP molecules (1 and 2, Figure 1) offers synthetic chemists uncharted realms of exploration and discovery. In this communication, we focus on the chemical hurdies posed by the gamma-hydroxy lactone moiety of these exciting targets. Thus, the examination of the general reactivity of these systems, the development of a novel tandem oxidation sequence to construct the gamma-hydroxy lactone moiety, and the successful construction of the complete polycyclic core of 2 (compound 28, Scheme 5) is enumerated within.

New synthetic technology for the synthesis of hindered alpha-diazoketones via acyl mesylates.

[formula: see text] A mild and reliable one-pot protocol for the elaboration of sterically demanding carboxylic acids into alpha-diazoketones via acyl mesylates has been developed. Aside from delineating the reaction parameters which render this strategy quite general for hindered carboxylic acids, we have directly proven the existence of the fleeting acyl mesylate group as the reactive species in these reactions and shed light onto the differing mechanisms which are operative in the activation of hindered and simple carboxylic acids with methanesulfonyl chloride.