Restoration of Cardiac Myosin Light Chain Kinase Ameliorates Systolic Dysfunction by Reducing Superrelaxed Myosin.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac-specific myosin light chain kinase (cMLCK), encoded by MYLK3, regulates cardiac contractility through phosphorylation of ventricular myosin regulatory light chain. However, the pathophysiological and therapeutic implications of cMLCK in human heart failure remain unclear. We aimed to investigate whether cMLCK dysregulation causes cardiac dysfunction and whether the restoration of cMLCK could be a novel myotropic therapy for systolic heart failure. METHODS: We generated the knock-in mice (Mylk3+/fs and Mylk3fs/fs) with a familial dilated cardiomyopathy-associated MYLK3 frameshift mutation (MYLK3+/fs) that had been identified previously by us (c.1951-1G>T; p.P639Vfs*15) and the human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes from the carrier of the mutation. We also developed a new small-molecule activator of cMLCK (LEUO-1154). RESULTS: Both mice (Mylk3+/fs and Mylk3fs/fs) showed reduced cMLCK expression due to nonsense-mediated messenger RNA decay, reduced MLC2v (ventricular myosin regulatory light chain) phosphorylation in the myocardium, and systolic dysfunction in a cMLCK dose-dependent manner. Consistent with this result, myocardium from the mutant mice showed an increased ratio of cardiac superrelaxation/disordered relaxation states that may contribute to impaired cardiac contractility. The phenotypes observed in the knock-in mice were rescued by cMLCK replenishment through the AAV9_MYLK3 vector. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes with MYLK3+/fs mutation reduced cMLCK expression by 50% and contractile dysfunction, accompanied by an increased superrelaxation/disordered relaxation ratio. CRISPR-mediated gene correction, or cMLCK replenishment by AAV9_MYLK3 vector, successfully recovered cMLCK expression, the superrelaxation/disordered relaxation ratio, and contractile dysfunction. LEUO-1154 increased human cMLCK activity ≈2-fold in the Vmax for ventricular myosin regulatory light chain phosphorylation without affecting the Km. LEUO-1154 treatment of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes with MYLK3+/fs mutation restored the ventricular myosin regulatory light chain phosphorylation level and superrelaxation/disordered relaxation ratio and improved cardiac contractility without affecting calcium transients, indicating that the cMLCK activator acts as a myotrope. Finally, human myocardium from advanced heart failure with a wide variety of causes had a significantly lower MYLK3/PPP1R12B messenger RNA expression ratio than control hearts, suggesting an altered balance between myosin regulatory light chain kinase and phosphatase in the failing myocardium, irrespective of the causes. CONCLUSIONS: cMLCK dysregulation contributes to the development of cardiac systolic dysfunction in humans. Our strategy to restore cMLCK activity could form the basis of a novel myotropic therapy for advanced systolic heart failure.

Experimental and Computational Investigation of Facial Selectivity Switching in Nickel-Diamine-Acetate-Catalyzed Michael Reactions.

Chiral Ni complexes have revolutionized both asymmetric acid-base and redox catalysis. However, the coordination isomerism of Ni complexes and their open-shell property still often hinder the elucidation of the origin of their observed stereoselectivity. Here, we report our experimental and computational investigations to clarify the mechanism of ß-nitrostyrene facial selectivity switching in Ni(II)-diamine-(OAc)2-catalyzed asymmetric Michael reactions. In the reaction with a dimethyl malonate, the Evans transition state (TS), in which the enolate binds in the same plane with the diamine ligand, is identified as the lowest-energy TS to promote C-C bond formation from the Si face in ß-nitrostyrene. In contrast, a detailed survey of the multiple potential pathways in the reaction with α-keto esters points to a clear preference for our proposed C-C bond-forming TS, in which the enolate coordinates to the Ni(II) center in apical-equatorial positions relative to the diamine ligand, thereby promoting Re face addition in ß-nitrostyrene. The N-H group plays a key orientational role in minimizing steric repulsion.

Stille coupling via C-N bond cleavage.

Cross-coupling is a fundamental reaction in the synthesis of functional molecules, and has been widely applied, for example, to phenols, anilines, alcohols, amines and their derivatives. Here we report the Ni-catalysed Stille cross-coupling reaction of quaternary ammonium salts via C-N bond cleavage. Aryl/alkyl-trimethylammonium salts [Ar/R-NMe3]+ react smoothly with arylstannanes in 1:1 molar ratio in the presence of a catalytic amount of commercially available Ni(cod)2 and imidazole ligand together with 3.0 equivalents of CsF, affording the corresponding biaryl with broad functional group compatibility. The reaction pathway, including C-N bond cleavage step, is proposed based on the experimental and computational findings, as well as isolation and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of Ni-containing intermediates. This reaction should be widely applicable for transformation of amines/quaternary ammonium salts into multi-aromatics.

Direct Hydroxylation and Amination of Arenes via Deprotonative Cupration.

Deprotonative directed ortho cupration of aromatic/heteroaromatic C-H bond and subsequent oxidation with t-BuOOH furnished functionalized phenols in high yields with high regio- and chemoselectivity. DFT calculations revealed that this hydroxylation reaction proceeds via a copper (I → III → I) redox mechanism. Application of this reaction to aromatic C-H amination using BnONH2 efficiently afforded the corresponding primary anilines. These reactions show broad scope and good functional group compatibility. Catalytic versions of these transformations are also demonstrated.

How and Why Does Ni(0) Promote Smooth Etheric C-O Bond Cleavage and C-C Bond Formation? A Theoretical Study.

Ni-catalyzed cross-coupling between aryl alkyl ethers (ArOR) and Grignard reagents (RMgBr), known since 1979, proceeds under mild conditions in many cases. Although the reaction routes of various synthetic protocols involving transition-metal-catalyzed C-O bond activation have been elucidated, the mechanism of this etheric Kumada-Tamao-Curriu reaction remains enigmatic. This is because oxidative addition of inert etheric C-O to Ni(0) is thermodynamically and kinetically unfavorable, making it hard to explain the observed high reactivity of ether toward Ni catalysts. In this work, we used DFT calculations to identify a plausible reaction pathway by the Ni(0)-ate complex, which enables smooth C-O bond cleavage and R-group transfer with reasonable activation barriers; this mechanism also accounts for the ineffectiveness of Pd catalysts. These results throw new light on both C-O activation and cross-coupling, and should be valuable for further rational development of the methodologies.

Control of a Chiral Property of a Calix[3]aramide: The Racemization Suppressed by Intramolecular Cyclic Hydrogen Bonds and DMSO-H2O System-Induced Spontaneous Resolution.

A calix[3]aramide has been synthesized bearing three triphenylphosphinic amide moieties, which formed intramolecular cyclic hydrogen bonds that suppressed its cone/partial cone inversion. The intramolecular cyclic hydrogen bonds were disrupted by DMSO, and the insertion of H2O into the hydrogen bonds triggered the spontaneous resolution of the calix[3]aramide. Within a chiral environment, such as that afforded by the presence of optically active 2-butanol, the calix[3]aramide underwent a symmetry breaking crystallization process.

Structural effects in lithiocuprate chemistry: the elucidation of reactive pentametallic complexes.

TMPLi (TMP=2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide) reacts with Cu(I) salts in the presence of Et2O to give the dimers [{(TMP)2Cu(X)Li2 (OEt2)}2] (X=CN, halide). In contrast, the use of DMPLi (DMP=cis-2,6-dimethylpiperidide) gives an unprecedented structural motif; [{(DMP)2CuLi(OEt2)}2LiX] (X=halide). This formulation suggests a hitherto unexplored route to the in situ formation of Gilman-type bases that are of proven reactivity in directed ortho cupration.

Mechanistic origin of chemo- and regioselectivity of nickel-catalyzed [3 + 2 + 2] cyclization reaction.

A density functional theory (DFT) study was performed to elucidate the mechanism of the Ni-catalyzed [3 + 2 + 2] cyclization reaction of cyclopropylideneacetate with two alkynes. A systematic search showed that the nature of the alkynes determines the choice between two reaction pathways and hence the regioselectivity. Strongly electron-deficient acetylenes preferentially afford 2,5-disubstituted products via nickelacyclopentadienes generated by [2 + 2] cocyclization, whereas normal alkynes afford 3,4- or 3,5-products via an unprecedented pathway involving a [3 + 2] nickelacycle intermediate.

Reaction pathway of methylenation of carbonyl compounds with bis(iodozincio)methane.

About 40 years have passed since methylene dizinc reagent was discovered as a substitute for Wittig reagent. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been performed to understand the reaction pathways of methylenation of carbonyl compounds with bis(iodozincio)methane. The present computational/theoretical study concluded that the methylenation reaction with gem-dizinc reagent proceeds as a two-step reaction, that is, methylene addition (RDS) and olefination. In the first step, the nucleophilic attack of the CH2 group enhanced by two Zn proceeds under the assistance of the electrophilic activation of the carbonyl group with the Zn atom. In the second step, the olefination is facilitated by both Zn atoms of the gem-dizinc reagent without an electron transfer process.

Homoleptic zincate-promoted room-temperature halogen-metal exchange of bromopyridines.

Homoleptic lithium tri- and tetraalkyl zincates were reacted with a set of bromopyridines. Efficient and chemoselective bromine-metal exchanges were realized at room temperature with a substoichiometric amount of nBu(4)ZnLi(2)·TMEDA reagent (1/3 equiv; TMEDA=N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine). This reactivity contrasted with that of tBu(4)ZnLi(2)·TMEDA, which was inefficient below one equivalent. DFT calculations allowed us to rationalize the formation of N···Li stabilized polypyridyl zincates in the reaction. The one-pot difunctionalization of dibromopyridines was also realized using the reagent stoichiometrically. The direct creation of C-Zn bonds in bromopyridines enabled us to perform efficient Negishi-type cross-couplings.

1,4-Addition of bis(iodozincio)methane to α,ß-unsaturated ketones: chemical and theoretical/computational studies.

1,4-Addition of bis(iodozincio)methane to simple α,ß-unsaturated ketones does not proceed well; the reaction is slightly endothermic according to DFT calculations. In the presence of chlorotrimethylsilane, the reaction proceeded efficiently to afford a silyl enol ether of ß-zinciomethyl ketone. The C--Zn bond of the silyl enol ether could be used in a cross-coupling reaction to form another C--C bond in a one-pot reaction. In contrast, 1,4-addition of the dizinc reagent to enones carrying an acyloxy group proceeded very efficiently without any additive. In this case, the product was a 1,3-diketone, which was generated in a novel tandem reaction. A theoretical/computational study indicates that the whole reaction pathway is exothermic, and that two zinc atoms of bis(iodozincio)methane accelerate each step cooperatively as effective Lewis acids.

Deprotonative metalation of substituted benzenes and heteroaromatics using amino/alkyl mixed lithium-zinc combinations.

Different homoleptic and heteroleptic lithium-zinc combinations were prepared, and structural elements obtained on the basis of NMR spectroscopic experiments and DFT calculations. In light of their ability to metalate anisole, pathways were proposed to justify the synergy observed for some mixtures. The best basic mixtures were obtained either by combining ZnCl(2).TMEDA (TMEDA=N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine) with [Li(tmp)] (tmp=2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidino; 3 equiv) or by replacing one of the tmp in the precedent mixture with an alkyl group. The reactivity of the aromatic lithium zincates supposedly formed was next studied, and proved to be substrate-, base-, and electrophile-dependent. The aromatic lithium zincates were finally involved in palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions with aromatic chlorides and bromides.

Lithium cadmate-mediated deprotonative metalation of anisole: experimental and computational study.

Lithium cadmates bearing different ligands were compared with efficient (TMP)(3)CdLi (TMP = 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidino) for their ability to deprotometalate anisole. The generated arylcadmates were evidenced using I(2). The results show that it is possible to replace only one of the TMP (with a piperidino, a diisopropylamino, a butyl, or a sec-butyl) without important yield drop. In the light of DFT calculations, reaction pathways were proposed for the deprotocadmations of anisole using a triamino, an alkyldiamino, and an aminodialkyl cadmate.

Synthesis of vinylcycloheptadienes by the nickel-catalyzed three-component [3 + 2 + 2] cocyclization. Application to the synthesis of polycyclic compounds.

The nickel-catalyzed [3 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of ethyl cyclopropylideneacetate and conjugated enynes proceeded smoothly and divinylcycloheptadienes were isolated in high yields. The three-component cocyclization of ethyl cyclopropylideneacetate, conjugated enynes, and (trimethylsilyl)acetylene also proceeded in a highly selective manner to afford vinylcycloheptadienes, which were reacted with various dienophiles. This study provided a new, short-step synthesis of polycyclic compounds with cycloheptane skeleton.

Nickel-catalyzed intermolecular [3 + 2 + 2] cocyclization of ethyl cyclopropylideneacetate and alkynes. Synthesis of seven-membered carbocycles.

The [3 + 2 + 2] cocyclization of ethyl cyclopropylideneacetate (1a) and various alkynes proceeded smoothly in the presence of Ni(cod)2-PPh3. The cycloheptadiene derivatives were synthesized in highly selective manners. The unique reactivity of 1a was essential for the progress of the reaction. The observed regioselectivity of the product formation and the mechanism of the reaction are discussed.

Nickel-catalyzed intermolecular [3 + 2 + 2] cocyclization of ethyl cyclopropylideneacetate and alkynes.

The [3 + 2 + 2] cocyclization of ethyl cyclopropylideneacetate (1a) and terminal alkynes (2) proceeded smoothly in the presence of 10 mol % "Ni(PPh3)2", which was prepared in situ from Ni(cod)2 and PPh3. The high reactivity of 1a, which was induced by the introduction of an electron-withdrawing group, is very important for the progress of this reaction. The cycloheptadiene derivatives were synthesized in highly selective manner in good yields.