Targeting telomerase reverse transcriptase with the covalent inhibitor NU-1 confers immunogenic radiation sensitization.

Beyond synthesizing telomere repeats, the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) also serves multiple other roles supporting cancer growth. Blocking telomerase to drive telomere erosion appears impractical, but TERT's non-canonical activities have yet to be fully explored as cancer targets. Here, we used an irreversible TERT inhibitor, NU-1, to examine impacts on resistance to conventional cancer therapies. In vitro, inhibiting TERT sensitized cells to chemotherapy and radiation. NU-1 delayed repair of double-strand breaks, resulting in persistent DNA damage signaling and cellular senescence. Although NU-1 alone did not impact growth of syngeneic CT26 tumors in BALB/c mice, it dramatically enhanced the effects of radiation, leading to immune-dependent tumor elimination. Tumors displayed persistent DNA damage, suppressed proliferation, and increased activated immune infiltrate. Our studies confirm TERT's role in limiting genotoxic effects of conventional therapy but also implicate TERT as a determinant of immune evasion and therapy resistance.

Targeting the tamoxifen receptor within sodium channels to block osteoarthritic pain.

Voltage-gated sodium channels (NaV) in nociceptive neurons initiate action potentials required for transmission of aberrant painful stimuli observed in osteoarthritis (OA). Targeting NaV subtypes with drugs to produce analgesic effects for OA pain management is a developing therapeutic area. Previously, we determined the receptor site for the tamoxifen analog N-desmethyltamoxifen (ND-Tam) within a prokaryotic NaV. Here, we report the pharmacology of ND-Tam against eukaryotic NaVs natively expressed in nociceptive neurons. ND-Tam and analogs occupy two conserved intracellular receptor sites in domains II and IV of NaV1.7 to block ion entry using a "bind and plug" mechanism. We find that ND-Tam inhibition of the sodium current is state dependent, conferring a potent frequency- and voltage-dependent block of hyperexcitable nociceptive neuron action potentials implicated in OA pain. When evaluated using a mouse OA pain model, ND-Tam has long-lasting efficacy, which supports the potential of repurposing ND-Tam analogs as NaV antagonists for OA pain management.

Chemoselectivity for Alkene Cleavage by Palladium-Catalyzed Intramolecular Diazo Group Transfer from Azide to Alkene.

Alkenes can be cleaved by means of the (3+2) cycloaddition and subsequent cycloreversion of 1,3-dipoles, classically ozone (O3 ), but the azide (R-N3 ) variant is rare. Chemoselectivity for these azide to alkene diazo group transfers (DGT) is typically disfavored, thus limiting their synthetic utility. Herein, this work discloses a palladium-catalyzed intramolecular azide to alkene DGT, which grants chemoselectivity over competing aziridination. The data support a catalytic cycloreversion mechanism distinct from other known metal-catalyzed azide/alkene reactions: nitrenoid/metalloradical and (3+2) cycloadditions. Kinetics experiments reveal an unusual mechanistic profile in which the catalyst is not operative during the rate-controlling step, rather, it is active during the product-determining step. Catalytic DGT was used to synthesize N-heterocyclic quinazolinones, a medicinally relevant structural core. We also report on the competing aziridination and subsequent ring expansion to another N-heterocyclic core structure of interest, benzodiazepinones.

Integrating Metal-Catalyzed C-H and C-O Functionalization To Achieve Sterically Controlled Regioselectivity in Arene Acylation.

One major goal of organometallic chemists is the direct functionalization of the bonds most recurrent in organic molecules: C-H, C-C, C-O, and C-N. An even grander challenge is C-C bond formation when both precursors are of this category. Parallel to this is the synthetic goal of achieving reaction selectivity that contrasts with conventional methods. Electrophilic aromatic substitution (EAS) via Friedel-Crafts acylation is the most renowned method for the synthesis of aryl ketones, a common structural motif of many pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, fragrances, dyes, and other commodity chemicals. However, an EAS synthetic strategy is only effective if the desired site for acylation is in accordance with the electronic-controlled regioselectivity of the reaction. Herein we report steric-controlled regioselective arene acylation with salicylate esters via iridium catalysis to access distinctly substituted benzophenones. Experimental and computational data indicate a unique reaction mechanism that integrates C-O activation and C-H activation with a single iridium catalyst without an exogenous oxidant or base. We disclose an extensive exploration of the synthetic scope of both the arene and the ester components, culminating in the concise synthesis of the potent anticancer agent hydroxyphenstatin.

Mechanistic Model for Enantioselective Intramolecular Alkene Cyanoamidation via Palladium-Catalyzed C-CN Bond Activation.

We studied key aspects of the mechanism of Pd-catalyzed C-CN bond activation and intramolecular enantioselective alkene cyanoamidation. An Abboud-Abraham-Kamlet-Taft (AAKT) linear solvation energy relationship (LSER) model for enantioselectivity was established. We investigated the impact of Lewis acid (BPh3), Lewis base (DMPU), and no additives. BPh3 additive led to diminished enantioselectivity and differing results in 13CN crossover experiments, initial rate kinetics, and natural abundance 12C/13C kinetic isotope effect measurements. We propose two catalytic mechanisms to account for our experimental results. We propose that the DMPU/nonadditive pathway passes through a κ2-phosphoramidite-stabilized Pd+ intermediate, resulting in high enantioselectivity. BPh3 prevents the dissociation of CN-, leading to a less rigid κ2-phosphoramidite-neutral Pd intermediate.