Benzo[b]naphtho[1,2-d]thiophene Sulfoxides: Biomimetic Synthesis, Photophysical Properties, and Applications.

A practical synthesis of nonsymmetrical thiophene-fused aromatic systems has been developed that was inspired by the biodegradation of benzothiophene. For the first time, the photophysical properties of a series of π-conjugated benzo[b]naphtho[1,2-d]thiophene (BNT) sulfoxides were explored both in solution and in the solid state. The excellent fluorescence characteristics enable various applications of these compounds.

Synthesis of Flavonols via Pyrrolidine Catalysis: Origins of the Selectivity for Flavonol versus Aurone.

A novel synthetic method for flavonol from 2'-hydroxyl acetophenone and benzaldehyde promoted by pyrrolidine under an aerobic condition in water is established. This protocol was supported by efficient synthesis of 44 common examples and three natural products. The α, ß-unsaturated iminium ion (enimine ion E) was proved to be the key intermediate in the reaction. H218O and 18O2 isotope tracking experiments demonstrated that both water and the aerobic atmosphere were necessary to ensure the transformation. The selectivity for flavonol or aurone was originated from solvent-triggered intermediates, which were determined by UV-visible spectra from isolated enimine. The phenol-iminium E-A is dominant in water and the ketoenamine intermediate E-B is prevalent in acetonitrile. In the presence of pyrrolidine and oxygen, E-A leads to flavonol through E-I, a zwitterionic-like phenoloxyl-iminium ion, following the key steps of cyclization and a [2 + 2] oxidation; E-B proceeds through path II, a radical process induced by photolysis of E-B with both pyrrolidine and oxygen, to afford aurone. Preliminary mechanistic studies are reported.

Discovery of Coumarin as Microtubule Affinity-Regulating Kinase 4 Inhibitor That Sensitize Hepatocellular Carcinoma to Paclitaxel.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. Nowadays, pharmacological therapy for HCC is in urgent needs. Paclitaxel is an effective drug against diverse solid tumors, but commonly resisted in HCC patients. We recently have disclosed that microtubule affinity-regulating kinase 4 (MARK4) increases the microtubule dynamics and confers paclitaxel resistance in HCC, suggesting MARK4 as an attractive target to overcome paclitaxel resistance. Herein, we synthesized and identified coumarin derivatives 50 as a novel MARK4 inhibitor. Biological evaluation indicated compound 50 directly interacted with MARK4 and inhibited its activity in vitro, suppressed cell viability and induced apoptosis of HCC cells in a MARK4-dependent manner. Importantly, compound 50 significantly increased the drug response of paclitaxel treatment to HCC cells, providing a promise strategy to HCC treatment and broadening the application of paclitaxel in cancer therapy.

Discovery of a Prenylated Flavonol Derivative as a Pin1 Inhibitor to Suppress Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Modulating MicroRNA Biogenesis.

Peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase Pin1 plays a crucial role in the development of human cancers. Recently, we have disclosed that Pin1 regulates the biogenesis of miRNA, which is aberrantly expressed in HCC and promotes HCC progression, indicating the therapeutic role of Pin1 in HCC therapy. Here, 7-(benzyloxy)-3,5-dihydroxy-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-8-(3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl)-4H-chromen-4-one (AF-39) was identified as a novel Pin1 inhibitor. Biochemical tests indicate that AF-39 potently inhibits Pin1 activity with an IC50 values of 1.008 µm, and also displays high selectivity for Pin1 among peptidyl prolyl isomerases. Furthermore, AF-39 significantly suppresses cell proliferation of HCC cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Mechanistically, AF-39 regulates the subcellular distribution of XPO5 and increases miRNAs biogenesis in HCC cells. This work provides a promising lead compound for HCC treatment, highlighting the therapeutic potential of miRNA-based therapy against human cancer.

Targeting Pin1 by inhibitor API-1 regulates microRNA biogenesis and suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma development.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer death worldwide, but there are few effective treatments. Aberrant microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis is correlated with HCC development. We previously demonstrated that peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase NIMA-interacting 1 (Pin1) participates in miRNA biogenesis and is a potential HCC treatment target. However, how Pin1 modulates miRNA biogenesis remains obscure. Here, we present in vivo evidence that Pin1 overexpression is directly linked to the development of HCC. Administration with the Pin1 inhibitor (API-1), a specific small molecule targeting Pin1 peptidyl-prolyl isomerase domain and inhibiting Pin1 cis-trans isomerizing activity, suppresses in vitro cell proliferation and migration of HCC cells. But API-1-induced Pin1 inhibition is insensitive to HCC cells with low Pin1 expression and/or low exportin-5 (XPO5) phosphorylation. Mechanistically, Pin1 recognizes and isomerizes the phosphorylated serine-proline motif of phosphorylated XPO5 and passivates phosphorylated XPO5. Pin1 inhibition by API-1 maintains the active conformation of phosphorylated XPO5 and restores XPO5-driven precursor miRNA nuclear-to-cytoplasm export, activating anticancer miRNA biogenesis and leading to both in vitro HCC suppression and HCC suppression in xenograft mice. CONCLUSION: Experimental evidence suggests that Pin1 inhibition by API-1 up-regulates miRNA biogenesis by retaining active XPO5 conformation and suppresses HCC development, revealing the mechanism of Pin1-mediated miRNA biogenesis and unequivocally supporting API-1 as a drug candidate for HCC therapy, especially for Pin1-overexpressing, extracellular signal-regulated kinase-activated HCC. (Hepatology 2018).