Unusual pungency from extra-virgin olive oil is attributable to restricted spatial expression of the receptor of oleocanthal.

Oleocanthal, a major phenolic compound in extra-virgin olive oil with antiinflammatory properties, elicits an unusual oral pungency sensed almost exclusively in the throat. This contrasts with most other common oral irritants, such as cinnamaldehyde, capsaicin, and alcohol, which irritate mucus membranes throughout the oral cavity. Here, we show that this rare irritation pattern is a consequence of both the specificity of oleocanthal for a single sensory receptor and the anatomical restriction of this sensory receptor to the pharynx, within the oral cavity. We demonstrate, in vitro, that oleocanthal selectively activates the hTRPA1 channel in HEK 293 cells and that its ability to excite the trigeminal nervous system in rodents requires a functional TRPA1. Moreover, we similarly demonstrate that the over-the-counter analgesic, ibuprofen, which elicits the same restricted pharyngeal irritation as oleocanthal, also specifically excites rodent sensory neurons via TRPA1. Using human sensory psychophysical studies and immunohistochemical TRPA1 analyses of human oral and nasal tissues, we observe an overlap of the anatomical distribution of TRPA1 and the regions irritated by oleocanthal in humans. These results suggest that a TRPA1 (ANKTM1) gene product mediates the tissue sensitivity to oleocanthal within the oral cavity. Furthermore, we demonstrate that, despite the fact that oleocanthal possesses the classic electrophilic reactivity of many TRPA1 agonists, it does not use the previously identified activation mechanism via covalent cysteine modification. These findings provide an anatomical and molecular explanation for a distinct oral sensation that is elicited by oleocanthal and ibuprofen and that is commonly experienced around the world when consuming many extra-virgin olive oils.

Inhibition of tau fibrillization by oleocanthal via reaction with the amino groups of tau.

Tau is a microtubule-associated protein that promotes microtubule assembly and stability. In Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies, tau fibrillizes and aggregates into neurofibrillary tangles. Recently, oleocanthal isolated from extra virgin olive oil was found to display non-steroidal anti-inflammatory activity similar to ibuprofen. As our unpublished data indicates an inhibitory effect of oleocanthal on amyloid beta peptide fibrillization, we reasoned that it might inhibit tau fibrillization as well. Herein, we demonstrate that oleocanthal abrogates fibrillization of tau by locking tau into the naturally unfolded state. Using PHF6 consisting of the amino acid residues VQIVYK, a hexapeptide within the third repeat of tau that is essential for fibrillization, we show that oleocanthal forms an adduct with the lysine via initial Schiff base formation. Structure and function studies demonstrate that the two aldehyde groups of oleocanthal are required for the inhibitory activity. These two aldehyde groups show certain specificity when titrated with free lysine and oleocanthal does not significantly affect the normal function of tau. These findings provide a potential scheme for the development of novel therapies for neurodegenerative tauopathies.

Spongipyran Synthetic Studies. Evolution of a Scalable Total Synthesis of (+)-Spongistatin 1.

Three syntheses of the architecturally complex, cytotoxic marine macrolide (+)-spongistatin 1 (1) are reported. Highlights of the first-generation synthesis include: use of a dithiane multicomponent linchpin coupling tactic for construction of the AB and CD spiroketals, and their union via a highly selective Evans boron-mediated aldol reaction en route to an ABCD aldehyde; introduction of the C(44)-C(51) side chain via a Lewis acid-mediated ring opening of a glucal epoxide with an allylstannane to assemble the EF subunit; and final fragment union via Wittig coupling of the ABCD and EF subunits to form the C(28)-C(29) olefin, followed by regioselective Yamaguchi macrolactonization and global deprotection. The second- and third- generation syntheses, designed with the goal of accessing one gram of (+)-spongistatin 1 (1), maintain both the first-generation strategy for the ABCD aldehyde and final fragment union, while incorporating two more efficient approaches for construction of the EF Wittig salt. The latter combine the original chelation-controlled dithiane union of the E- and F-ring progenitors with application of a highly efficient cyanohydrin alkylation to append the F-ring side chain, in conjunction with two independent tactics to access the F-ring pyran. The first F-ring synthesis showcases a Petasis-Ferrier union/rearrangement protocol to access tetrahydropyrans, permitting the preparation of 750 mgs of the EF Wittig salt, which in turn was converted to 80 mg of (+)-spongistatin 1, while the second F-ring strategy, incorporates an organocatalytic aldol reaction as the key construct, permitting completion of 1.009 g of totally synthetic (+)-spongistatin 1 (1). A brief analysis of the three syntheses alongside our earlier synthesis of (+)-spongistatin 2 is also presented.

Introduction of a Crystalline, Shelf-Stable Reagent for the Synthesis of Sulfur(VI) Fluorides.

The design, synthesis, and application of [4-(acetylamino)phenyl]imidodisulfuryl difluoride (AISF), a shelf-stable, crystalline reagent for the synthesis of sulfur(VI) fluorides, is described. The utility of AISF is demonstrated in the synthesis of a diverse array of aryl fluorosulfates and sulfamoyl fluorides under mild conditions. Additionally, a single-step preparation of AISF was developed that installed the bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide group on acetanilide utilizing an oxidative C-H functionalization protocol.

Electrochemical annulation of five-membered rings through dearomatization of furans and thiophenes.

A new methodology for the annulation of five-membered carbocyclic rings onto enones through the dearomatizing electrochemical cyclization of furans and thiophenes has been developed.

Furans, thiophenes and related heterocycles in drug discovery.

The five-membered aromatic heterocycles containing oxygen and sulfur are key building blocks used in medicinal chemistry applications. Furans, thiophenes and related azole analogs constitute an important class of compounds that are readily available, stable and easily functionalized. In this review, the authors survey the recent literature and highlight the application of such compounds in the development of therapeutic agents. This review focuses on two major strategies involving these compounds. The first is the use of these rings as intact scaffolds within the final target compound, and the second is the use of these compounds as convenient and flexible synthons for non-aromatic structural moieties.

Altered specificity of Hint-W123Q supports a role for Hint inhibition by ASW in avian sex determination.

Hint is a universally conserved, dimeric AMP-lysine hydrolase encoded on the avian Z chromosome. Tandemly repeated on the female-specific W chromosome, Asw encodes a potentially sex-determining, dominant-negative Hint dimerization partner whose substrate-interacting residues were specifically altered in evolution. To test the hypothesis that Gln127 of Asw is responsible for depression and/or alteration of Hint enzyme activity, a corresponding mutant was created in the chicken Hint homodimer, and a novel substrate was developed that links reversal of AMP-lysine modification to aminomethylcoumarin release. Strikingly, the Hint-W123Q substitution reduced k(cat)/K(m) for AMP-lysine hydrolysis 17-fold, while it increased specificity for AMP-para-nitroaniline hydrolysis by 160-fold. The resulting 2,700-fold switch in enzyme specificity suggests that Gln127 could be the dominant component of Asw dominant negativity in avian feminization.

In vitro and in vivo anticancer activity of (+)-spongistatin 1.

The marine natural product (+)-spongistatin 1 is an extremely potent growth inhibitory agent having activity against a wide variety of cancer cell lines, while exhibiting low cytotoxicity against quiescent human fibroblasts. Consistent with a microtubule-targeting mechanism of action, (+)-spongistatin 1 causes mitotic arrest in DU145 human prostate cancer cells. More importantly, (+)-spongistatin 1 exhibits significant in vivo antitumor activity in the LOX-IMVI human melanoma xenograft model. (+)-Spongistatin 1 is, thus, an important class of microtubule targeting anticancer agent that warrants further investigation.

Gram-scale synthesis of (+)-spongistatin 1: development of an improved, scalable synthesis of the F-ring subunit, fragment union, and final elaboration.

In a quest to develop an effective, scalable synthesis of (+)-spongistatin 1 ( 1), we devised a concise, third-generation scalable synthesis of (+)- 7, the requisite F-ring tetrahydropyran aldehyde, employing a proline-catalyzed cross-aldol reaction. Subsequent elaboration to (+)-EF Wittig salt (+)- 3, followed by union with advanced ABCD aldehyde (-)- 4, macrolactonization and global deprotection permitted access to >1.0 g of totally synthetic (+)-spongistatin 1 ( 1).

Syntheses of (-)-oleocanthal, a natural NSAID found in extra virgin olive oil, the (-)-deacetoxy-oleuropein aglycone, and related analogues.

Phenolic compounds extracted from extra virgin olive oil have attracted considerable recent attention. One of the components, (-)-oleocanthal (1), an inhibitor of the COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes, possesses similar potency as the NSAID ibuprofen. In this, a full account, we disclose the first- and now second-generation syntheses of both enantiomers of the oleocanthals, as well as the first synthesis of the closely related (-)-deacetoxy-oleuropein aglycone and a series of related analogues for structure activity studies. To demonstrate the utility of the second-generation synthesis, multigram quantities of (-)-oleocanthal were prepared in 10 steps (14% overall yield) from commercially available D-lyxose.

Plasma membrane rafts complete cholesterol synthesis by participating in retrograde movement of precursor sterols.

Mammalian cells synthesize significant amounts of precursor sterols, in addition to cholesterol, at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The newly synthesized sterols rapidly move to the plasma membrane (PM). The mechanism by which precursor sterols move back to the ER for their enzymatic processing to cholesterol is essentially unknown. Here we performed pulse-chase experiments and showed that the C29/C30 sterols rapidly move from the PM to the ER and are converted to cholesterol. The retrograde precursor sterol transport is largely independent of the Niemann-Pick type C proteins, which play important roles in late endosomal cholesterol transport. In contrast, disrupting lipid rafts significantly retards the conversion of C29/C30 and C28 sterols to cholesterol, causing the accumulation of precursor sterols at the PM. Our results reveal a previously undisclosed function of the PM lipid rafts: they bring cholesterol biosynthesis to completion by participating in the retrograde movement of precursor sterols back to the ER.

The application of cathodic reductions and anodic oxidations in the synthesis of complex molecules.

This tutorial review surveys the recent advances in electrochemical transformations as they pertain to the synthesis of complex organic molecules. Electrochemistry has emerged as a powerful tool to synthetic chemists, yet many have never considered electrochemical methodology as a means for synthesis. Here, an introduction to electrochemistry and voltammetry will be provided with descriptions of the four types of electrochemical cells. In addition, recent examples of both anodic oxidations and cathodic reductions will be discussed, along with the experimental setups for carrying out each reaction.

The gem-dialkyl effect in electron transfer reactions: rapid synthesis of seven-membered rings through an electrochemical annulation.

An electrochemical furan annulation strategy has been developed for the synthesis of seven-membered rings. Key to the success of the annulation is the placement of a gem-dialkyl group in the tether. Voltammetric studies indicate that this effect lowers the oxidation potential by approximately 110 mV.

Electrooxidative coupling of furans and silyl enol ethers: application to the synthesis of annulated furans.

The preparation of annulated furan systems as key synthetic intermediates through the application of a two-step annulation involving an electrochemical ring closure between a furan and a silyl enol ether has been studied. The reaction was shown to be quite general for the formation of six-membered rings in good yields and was tolerant of a variety of different functional groups. The ring closure was highly stereoselective, leading to the formation of cis-fused systems. Cyclic voltammetry and probe molecules were used to gain mechanistic insight into the reaction. These studies suggested that the key ring closure involved an initial oxidation of the silyl enol ether to a radical cation followed by a furan-terminated cyclization.