Unravelling the Allosteric Targeting of PHGDH at the ACT-Binding Domain with a Photoactivatable Diazirine Probe and Mass Spectrometry Experiments.

The serine biosynthetic pathway is a key element contributing to tumor proliferation. In recent years, targeting of phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH), the first enzyme of this pathway, intensified and revealed to be a promising strategy to develop new anticancer drugs. Among attractive PHGDH inhibitors are the α-ketothioamides. In previous work, we have demonstrated their efficacy in the inhibition of PHGDH in vitro and in cellulo. However, the precise site of action of this series, which would help the rational design of new inhibitors, remained undefined. In the present study, the detailed mechanism-of-action of a representative α-ketothioamide inhibitor is reported using several complementary experimental techniques. Strikingly, our work led to the identification of an allosteric site on PHGDH that can be targeted for drug development. Using mass spectrometry experiments and an original α-ketothioamide diazirine-based photoaffinity probe, we identified the 523Q-533F sequence on the ACT regulatory domain of PHGDH as the binding site of α-ketothioamides. Mutagenesis experiments further documented the specificity of our compound at this allosteric site. Our results thus pave the way for the development of new anticancer drugs using a completely novel mechanism-of-action.

Asymmetric organocatalytic methods for the synthesis of tetrahydropyrans and their application in total synthesis.

Recent advancement in the area of asymmetric organocatalysis led to the development of new methodologies for the construction of valuable enantiopure molecules, including various heterocycles. As one of the latter class of compounds tetrahydropyrans (THPs) constitute a core structure of a wide array of bioactive natural products. A noticeable growth has been observed in the asymmetric synthesis of THPs using small organic molecules as catalysts. This Tutorial Review describes the organocatalytic methods available to furnish THPs as well as the application of these methodologies in the total synthesis of THP-based natural products.

Combining Organocatalysis and Lanthanide Catalysis: A Sequential One-Pot Quadruple Reaction Sequence/Hetero-Diels-Alder Asymmetric Synthesis of Functionalized Tricycles.

A stereoselective one-pot synthesis of functionalized complex tricyclic polyethers has been achieved using the combination of secondary amine and lanthanide catalysis. This one-pot quadruple reaction/Hetero-Diels-Alder sequence gave good yields (per step) as well as excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities. Furthermore, the particular combination of lanthanide complexes with organocatalysis is one of the first examples described for sequential catalysis.

Electrochemical Oxidative Decarboxylation of Malonic Acid Derivatives: A Method for the Synthesis of Ketals and Ketones.

A novel electrochemical oxidative decarboxylation of disubstituted malonic acids leading to dimethoxy ketals is described. In the presence of NH3, a wide range of disubstituted malonic acids was transformed into the corresponding ketals in good to excellent yields under electrochemical conditions. When the crude reaction mixture, obtained after electrolysis, was directly treated with 1 M aq HCl, the initially generated ketals were smoothly transformed into the corresponding ketones in a single vessel operation.