Quantitative live cell imaging of a tauopathy model enables the identification of a polypharmacological drug candidate that restores physiological microtubule interaction.

Tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease are characterized by aggregation and increased phosphorylation of the microtubule-associated protein tau. Tau's pathological changes are closely linked to neurodegeneration, making tau a prime candidate for intervention. We developed an approach to monitor pathological changes of aggregation-prone human tau in living neurons. We identified 2-phenyloxazole (PHOX) derivatives as putative polypharmacological small molecules that interact with tau and modulate tau kinases. We found that PHOX15 inhibits tau aggregation, restores tau's physiological microtubule interaction, and reduces tau phosphorylation at disease-relevant sites. Molecular dynamics simulations highlight cryptic channel-like pockets crossing tau protofilaments and suggest that PHOX15 binding reduces the protofilament's ability to adopt a PHF-like conformation by modifying a key glycine triad. Our data demonstrate that live-cell imaging of a tauopathy model enables screening of compounds that modulate tau-microtubule interaction and allows identification of a promising polypharmacological drug candidate that simultaneously inhibits tau aggregation and reduces tau phosphorylation.

Kojic acid derivatives as double face ligands for metal and phosphate ions.

A family of combined Kojic acid and polyamine derivatives has been synthesized as phosphate anion and metal ion ligands. The stoichiometry, stability and structure of the ion/ligand adducts were determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy, potentiometry, EXAFS and DFT calculations. The presented dual ligands bind effectively both phosphate anions and metal ions and could be used as effective ion receptors in challenging water conditions in the broad pH range. A careful analysis of the heatmaps of the stability constants allows to choose the most appropriate ligand for the ion for qualitative and/or quantitative analysis in water, without analyte pre-treatment. Extremely high-water solubility (>0.6 M) and ion(s)/ligand stability of the adducts in the pH 3-11 are the greatest advantages of the presented here molecules over other known ion sensors. The presented here molecules represent an innovative class of dual metal/anion ligands, with perspective of medical and environmental use.