A Divalent PAMAM-Based Matrix Metalloproteinase/Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitor for the Treatment of Dry Eye Syndrome.

Synthetic sulfonamide derivatives are a class of potent matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors (MMPI) that have potential for the treatment of diseases related to uncontrolled expression of these enzymes. The lack of selectivity of the large majority of such inhibitors, leading to the inhibition of MMPs in tissues other than the targeted one, has dramatically reduced the therapeutic interest in MMPIs. The recent development of efficient drug delivery systems that allow the transportation of a selected drug to its site of action has opened the way to new perspectives in the use of MMPIs. Here, a PAMAM-based divalent dendron with two sulfonamidic residues was synthesized. This nanomolar inhibitor binds to the catalytic domain of two MMPs as well as to the transmembrane human carbonic anhydrases (hCAs) XII, which is present in the eye and considered an antiglaucoma target. In the animal model of an experimental dry eye, no occurrence of dotted staining in eyes treated with our inhibitor was observed, indicating no symptoms of corneal desiccation.

Role of a Preorganized Scaffold Presenting Four Residues of a GM-3 Lactone Mimetic on Melanoma Progression.

Two tetravalent architectures, the glycocalix 7 and the RAFT 9, presenting four residues of a GM-3 ganglioside lactone mimetic, target the host compartment of melanoma and significantly abrogate the effect induced by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) contact + hypoxia in the motility and invasiveness of tumor cells. The data reported support the involvement of glycosphingolipids (GSLs) in hypoxia and show an interesting role played by compound 9 in targeting melanoma cells thereby interfering with melanoma progression. The unprecedented findings reported for the glycocluster 9 may contribute to the understanding of the critical and complex interactions between tumor cells and their local environment paving the way for new therapeutic agents.

Glycosyl transfer to nitrogen via cycloaddition.

[formula: see text] This letter describes the reduction to practice of a novel concept for functionalization of the anomeric carbon of carbohydrates with a nitrogen substituent. Thus, bisheterodienes with a thiono sulfur terminus and a sulfonylimine terminus are shown to undergo cycloaddition smoothly and stereoselectively to three different glycals.

Induction of a preferred sense of twist in flexible diphenyls by carbohydrate scaffolds. Synthesis of two "naked" ellagitannin analogous.

The synthesis of "naked" ellagitannin analogues 1 and 2, having a preferred sense of twist of the diphenyl moiety, with a rhamnose and a glucose template, is reported. A clear induction in the chirality of the diphenyl moiety, mediated through a 10-membered ring via ester linkages, was observed. The chiral scaffold of glucose (diequatorial 2,3-hydroxyl groups) exerts a remarkable stronger atropdiastereoselective effect onto the diphenoyl group than the rhamnose ring (axial-equatorial 2,3-hydroxyl groups), according to the Schmidt-Haslam hypothesis.

A new procedure for the preparation of beta-keto-delta-lactones from sugars and their transformation into glycosyl acceptors in disaccharides synthesis

[reaction: see text] Glycals are effective starting materials for the synthesis of enantiopure beta-ketone-delta-lactones. They are easily transformed, through a two-step, one-pot reaction, into the corresponding alpha,alpha'-dioxothiones which in turn can be quantitatively trapped with dienophiles in inverse electron-demand [4 + 2] cycloadditions. The reaction of dioxothione 8b with endo and exo glucals allowed the elaboration of a new protocol to prepare 2-thio- or 2-deoxydisaccharides stereoselectively.