Small molecule photocatalysis enables drug target identification via energy transfer.

Over half of new therapeutic approaches fail in clinical trials due to a lack of target validation. As such, the development of new methods to improve and accelerate the identification of cellular targets, broadly known as target ID, remains a fundamental goal in drug discovery. While advances in sequencing and mass spectrometry technologies have revolutionized drug target ID in recent decades, the corresponding chemical-based approaches have not changed in over 50 y. Consigned to outdated stoichiometric activation modes, modern target ID campaigns are regularly confounded by poor signal-to-noise resulting from limited receptor occupancy and low crosslinking yields, especially when targeting low abundance membrane proteins or multiple protein target engagement. Here, we describe a broadly general platform for photocatalytic small molecule target ID, which is founded upon the catalytic amplification of target-tag crosslinking through the continuous generation of high-energy carbene intermediates via visible light-mediated Dexter energy transfer. By decoupling the reactive warhead tag from the small molecule ligand, catalytic signal amplification results in unprecedented levels of target enrichment, enabling the quantitative target and off target ID of several drugs including (+)-JQ1, paclitaxel (Taxol), dasatinib (Sprycel), as well as two G-protein-coupled receptors-ADORA2A and GPR40.

µMap Photoproximity Labeling Enables Small Molecule Binding Site Mapping.

The characterization of ligand binding modes is a crucial step in the drug discovery process and is especially important in campaigns arising from phenotypic screening, where the protein target and binding mode are unknown at the outset. Elucidation of target binding regions is typically achieved by X-ray crystallography or photoaffinity labeling (PAL) approaches; yet, these methods present significant challenges. X-ray crystallography is a mainstay technique that has revolutionized drug discovery, but in many cases structural characterization is challenging or impossible. PAL has also enabled binding site mapping with peptide- and amino-acid-level resolution; however, the stoichiometric activation mode can lead to poor signal and coverage of the resident binding pocket. Additionally, each PAL probe can have its own fragmentation pattern, complicating the analysis by mass spectrometry. Here, we establish a robust and general photocatalytic approach toward the mapping of protein binding sites, which we define as identification of residues proximal to the ligand binding pocket. By utilizing a catalytic mode of activation, we obtain sets of labeled amino acids in the proximity of the target protein binding site. We use this methodology to map, in vitro, the binding sites of six protein targets, including several kinases and molecular glue targets, and furthermore to investigate the binding site of the STAT3 inhibitor MM-206, a ligand with no known crystal structure. Finally, we demonstrate the successful mapping of drug binding sites in live cells. These results establish µMap as a powerful method for the generation of amino-acid- and peptide-level target engagement data.

Design of a Multiuse Photoreactor To Enable Visible-Light Photocatalytic Chemical Transformations and Labeling in Live Cells.

Despite the growing use of visible-light photochemistry in both chemistry and biology, no general low-heat photoreactor for use across these different disciplines exists. Herein, we describe the design and use of a standardized photoreactor for visible-light-driven activation and photocatalytic chemical transformations. Using this single benchtop photoreactor, we performed photoredox reactions across multiple visible light wavelengths, a high-throughput photocatalytic cross-coupling reaction, and in vitro labeling of proteins and live cells. Given the success of this reactor in all tested applications, we envision that this multi-use photoreactor will be widely used in biology, chemical biology, and medicinal chemistry settings.

Stimulation of innate immune cells by light-activated TLR7/8 agonists.

The innate immune response is controlled, in part, by the synergistic interaction of multiple Toll-like receptors (TLRs). This multi-receptor cooperation is responsible for the potent activity of many vaccines, but few tools have been developed to understand the spatio-temporal elements of TLR synergies. In this Communication, we present photo-controlled agonists of TLR7/8. By strategically protecting the active agonist moiety based on an agonist-bound crystal structure, TLR activity is suppressed and then regained upon exposure to light. We confirmed NF-κB production upon light exposure in a model macrophage cell line. Primary cell activity was confirmed by examining cytokine and cell surface marker production in bone-marrow-derived dendritic cells. Finally, we used light to activate dendritic cell sub-populations within a larger population.

Targeted proximity-labelling of protein tyrosines via flavin-dependent photoredox catalysis with mechanistic evidence for a radical-radical recombination pathway.

Flavin-based photocatalysts such as riboflavin tetraacetate (RFT) serve as a robust platform for light-mediated protein labelling via phenoxy radical-mediated tyrosine-biotin phenol coupling on live cells. To gain insight into this coupling reaction, we conducted detailed mechanistic analysis for RFT-photomediated activation of phenols for tyrosine labelling. Contrary to previously proposed mechanisms, we find that the initial covalent binding step between the tag and tyrosine is not radical addition, but rather radical-radical recombination. The proposed mechanism may also explain the mecha-nism of other reported tyrosine-tagging approaches. Competitive kinetics experiments show that phenoxyl radicals are generated with several reactive intermediates in the proposed mechanism-primarily with the excited riboflavin-photocatalyst or singlet oxygen-and these multiple pathways for phenoxyl radical generation from phenols increase the likelihood of radical-radical recombination.

Targeted activation in localized protein environments via deep red photoredox catalysis.

State-of-the-art photoactivation strategies in chemical biology provide spatiotemporal control and visualization of biological processes. However, using high-energy light (λ < 500 nm) for substrate or photocatalyst sensitization can lead to background activation of photoactive small-molecule probes and reduce its efficacy in complex biological environments. Here we describe the development of targeted aryl azide activation via deep red-light (λ = 660 nm) photoredox catalysis and its use in photocatalysed proximity labelling. We demonstrate that aryl azides are converted to triplet nitrenes via a redox-centric mechanism and show that its spatially localized formation requires both red light and a photocatalyst-targeting modality. This technology was applied in different colon cancer cell systems for targeted protein environment labelling of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM). We identified a small subset of proteins with previously known and unknown association to EpCAM, including CDH3, a clinically relevant protein that shares high tumour-selective expression with EpCAM.

High-resolution photocatalytic mapping of SARS-CoV-2 spike interactions on the cell surface.

Identifying virus-host interactions on the cell surface can improve our understanding of viral entry and pathogenesis. SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of the COVID-19 disease, uses ACE2 as a receptor to enter cells. Yet the full repertoire of cell surface proteins that contribute to viral entry is unknown. We developed a photocatalyst-based viral-host protein microenvironment mapping platform (ViraMap) to probe the molecular neighborhood of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein on the human cell surface. Application of ViraMap to ACE2-expressing cells captured ACE2, the established co-receptor NRP1, and several novel cell surface proteins. We systematically analyzed the relevance of these candidate proteins to SARS-CoV-2 entry by knockdown and overexpression approaches in pseudovirus and authentic infection models and identified PTGFRN and EFNB1 as bona fide viral entry factors. Our results highlight additional host targets that participate in SARS-CoV-2 infection and showcase ViraMap as a powerful platform for defining viral interactions on the cell surface.

An electroaffinity labelling platform for chemoproteomic-based target identification.

Target identification involves deconvoluting the protein target of a pharmacologically active, small-molecule ligand, a process that is critical for early drug discovery yet technically challenging. Photoaffinity labelling strategies have become the benchmark for small-molecule target deconvolution, but covalent protein capture requires the use of high-energy ultraviolet light, which can complicate downstream target identification. Thus, there is a strong demand for alternative technologies that allow for controlled activation of chemical probes to covalently label their protein target. Here we introduce an electroaffinity labelling platform that leverages the use of a small, redox-active diazetidinone functional group to enable chemoproteomic-based target identification of pharmacophores within live cell environments. The underlying discovery to enable this platform is that the diazetidinone can be electrochemically oxidized to reveal a reactive intermediate useful for covalent modification of proteins. This work demonstrates the electrochemical platform to be a functional tool for drug-target identification.

Preparation of N-alkyl 2-pyridones via a lithium iodide promoted O- to N-alkyl migration: scope and mechanism.

An efficient and inexpensive LiI-promoted O- to N-alkyl migration of 2-benzyloxy-, 2-allyloxy-, and 2-propargyloxypyridines and heterocycles is reported. The reaction produces the corresponding N-alkyl 2-pyridones and analogues under green, solvent-free conditions in good to excellent yields (30 examples, 20-97% yield). This method has been shown to be intermolecular and requires heat and lithium cation to occur.

Interrogating biological systems using visible-light-powered catalysis.

Light-powered catalysis has found broad utility as a chemical transformation strategy, with widespread impact on energy, environment, drug discovery and human health. A noteworthy application impacting human health is light-induced sensitization of cofactors for photodynamic therapy in cancer treatment. The clinical adoption of this photosensitization approach has inspired the search for other photochemical methods, such as photoredox catalysis, to influence biological discovery. Over the past decade, light-mediated catalysis has enabled the discovery of valuable synthetic transformations, propelling it to become a highly utilized chemical synthesis strategy. The reaction components required to achieve a photoredox reaction are identical to photosensitization (catalyst, light source and substrate), making it ideally suited for probing biological environments. In this Review, we discuss the therapeutic application of photosensitization and advancements made in developing next-generation catalysts. We then highlight emerging uses of photoredox catalytic methods for protein bioconjugation and probing complex cellular environments in living cells.

Light Guided In-vivo Activation of Innate Immune Cells with Photocaged TLR 2/6 Agonist.

The complexity of the immune system creates challenges in exploring its importance and robustness. To date, there have been few techniques developed to manipulate individual components of the immune system in an in vivo environment. Here we show a light-based dendritic cell (DC) activation allowing spatial and temporal control of immune activation in vivo. Additionally, we show time dependent changes in RNA profiles of the draining lymph node, suggesting a change in cell profile following DC migration and indicating that the cells migrating have been activated towards antigen presentation.

Polyelectrolyte-Enrobed Cancer Cells in View of Personalized Immune-Therapy.

Targeting the immune system with a personalized vaccine containing cues derived from the patient's malignancy might be a promising approach in the fight against cancer. It includes neo-antigens as well as nonmutated tumor antigens, preferentially leading to an immune response that is directed to a broader range of epitopes compared to strategies involving a single antigen. Here, this paper reports on an elegant method to encapsulate whole cancer cells into polyelectrolyte particles. Porous and nonaggregated microparticles containing dead cancer cells are obtained by admixing mannitol and live cancer cells with oppositely charged polyelectrolytes, dextran sulfate (anionic polysaccharide), and poly-l-arginine (cationic polypeptide) prior to atomization into a hot air stream. It shows that the polyelectrolyte-enrobed cancer cells, upon redispersion in phosphate buffered saline buffer, are stable and do not release cell proteins in the supernatant. In vitro experiments reveal that the particles are nontoxic and strongly increase uptake of cell lysate by dendritic cells. In vitro assessment of antigen presentation by dendritic cells reveal the potential of the polyelectrolyte-enrobed cancer cells as promotors of antigen cross-presentation. Finally, it is demonstrated that the immunogenicity can be enhanced by surface adsorption of a polymer-substituted TLR7-agonist.

Immune Response Modulation of Conjugated Agonists with Changing Linker Length.

We report immune response modulation with linked Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists. Conjugating two agonists of synergistic TLRs induce an increase in immune activity compared to equal molarity of soluble agonists. Additionally, varying the distance between the agonists by changing the linker length alters the level of macrophage NF-κB activity as well as primary bone marrow derived dendritic cell IL-6 production. This modulation is effected by the size of the agonists and the pairing of the stimulated TLRs. The sensitivity of linker-length-dependent immune activity of conjugated agonists provides the potential for developing application specific therapeutics.

Ammonium Fluoride Mediated Synthesis of Anhydrous Metal Fluoride-Mesoporous Carbon Nanocomposites for High-Performance Lithium Ion Battery Cathodes.

Metal fluorides (MFx) are one of the most attractive cathode candidates for Li ion batteries (LIBs) due to their high conversion potentials with large capacities. However, only a limited number of synthetic methods, generally involving highly toxic or inaccessible reagents, currently exist, which has made it difficult to produce well-designed nanostructures suitable for cathodes; consequently, harnessing their potential cathodic properties has been a challenge. Herein, we report a new bottom-up synthetic method utilizing ammonium fluoride (NH4F) for the preparation of anhydrous MFx (CuF2, FeF3, and CoF2)/mesoporous carbon (MSU-F-C) nanocomposites, whereby a series of metal precursor nanoparticles preconfined in mesoporous carbon were readily converted to anhydrous MFx through simple heat treatment with NH4F under solventless conditions. We demonstrate the versatility, lower toxicity, and efficiency of this synthetic method and, using XRD analysis, propose a mechanism for the reaction. All MFx/MSU-F-C prepared in this study exhibited superior electrochemical performances, through conversion reactions, as the cathode for LIBs. In particular, FeF3/MSU-F-C maintained a capacity of 650 mAh g-1FeF3 across 50 cycles, which is ∼90% of its initial capacity. We expect that this facile synthesis method will trigger further research into the development of various nanostructured MFx for use in energy storage and other applications.

In vivo characterization of the physicochemical properties of polymer-linked TLR agonists that enhance vaccine immunogenicity.

The efficacy of vaccine adjuvants such as Toll-like receptor agonists (TLRa) can be improved through formulation and delivery approaches. Here, we attached small molecule TLR-7/8a to polymer scaffolds (polymer-TLR-7/8a) and evaluated how different physicochemical properties of the TLR-7/8a and polymer carrier influenced the location, magnitude and duration of innate immune activation in vivo. Particle formation by polymer-TLR-7/8a was the most important factor for restricting adjuvant distribution and prolonging activity in draining lymph nodes. The improved pharmacokinetic profile by particulate polymer-TLR-7/8a was also associated with reduced morbidity and enhanced vaccine immunogenicity for inducing antibodies and T cell immunity. We extended these findings to the development of a modular approach in which protein antigens are site-specifically linked to temperature-responsive polymer-TLR-7/8a adjuvants that self-assemble into immunogenic particles at physiologic temperatures in vivo. Our findings provide a chemical and structural basis for optimizing adjuvant design to elicit broad-based antibody and T cell responses with protein antigens.

Directing the immune system with chemical compounds.

Agonists of immune cell receptors direct innate and adaptive immunity. These agonists range in size and complexity from small molecules to large macromolecules. Here, agonists of a class of immune cell receptors known as the Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are highlighted focusing on the distinctive molecular moieties that pertain to receptor binding and activation. How the structure and combined chemical signals translate into a variety of immune responses remain major questions in the field. In this structure-focused review, we outline potential areas where the tools of chemical biology could help decipher the emerging molecular codes that direct immune stimulation.

Three-dimensional conformal coatings through the entrapment of polymer membrane precursors.

We report a technique to coat polymers onto 3D surfaces distinct from traditional spray, spin, or dip coating. In our technique, the surface of a template structure composed of poly(lactic acid) swells and entraps a soluble polymer precursor. Once entrapped, the precursor is cured, resulting in a thin, conformal membrane. The thickness of each coating depends on the coating solution composition, residence time, and template size. Thicknesses ranged from 400 nm to 4 µm within the experimental conditions we explored. The coating method was compatible with a range of polymers. Complicated 3D structures and microstructures of 10 µm thickness and separation were coated using this technique. The templates can also be selectively removed, leaving behind a hollow membrane structure in the shape of the original printed, extruded, or microporous template structures. This technique may be useful in applications that benefit from three-dimensional membrane topologies, including catalysis, separations, and potentially tissue engineering.

Synthesis of a new class of ß-iodo N-alkenyl 2-pyridones.

A new method for the synthesis of ß-iodo N-alkenyl 2-pyridones from substituted 2-propargyloxypyridines has been discovered . These compounds present a unique complement of orthogonal functionality and structural characteristics that are unavailable via other routes. The ready access to these compounds renders them an important entry point for the preparation of more complex N-alkyl pyridone-containing targets.