Enhanced modulation of cell-type specific neuronal responses in mouse dorsal auditory field during locomotion.

As we move through the environment we experience constantly changing sensory input that must be merged with our ongoing motor behaviors - creating dynamic interactions between our sensory and motor systems. Active behaviors such as locomotion generally increase the sensory-evoked neuronal activity in visual and somatosensory cortices, but evidence suggests that locomotion largely suppresses neuronal responses in the auditory cortex. However, whether this effect is ubiquitous across different anatomical regions of the auditory cortex is largely unknown. In mice, auditory association fields such as the dorsal auditory cortex (AuD), have been shown to have different physiological response properties, protein expression patterns, and cortical as well as subcortical connections, in comparison to primary auditory regions (A1) - suggesting there may be important functional differences. Here we examined locomotion-related modulation of neuronal activity in cortical layers ⅔ of AuD and A1 using two-photon Ca2+ imaging in head-fixed behaving mice that are able to freely run on a spherical treadmill. We determined the proportion of neurons in these two auditory regions that show enhanced and suppressed sensory-evoked responses during locomotion and quantified the depth of modulation. We found that A1 shows more suppression and AuD more enhanced responses during locomotion periods. We further revealed differences in the circuitry between these auditory regions and motor cortex, and found that AuD is more highly connected to motor cortical regions. Finally, we compared the cell-type specific locomotion-evoked modulation of responses in AuD and found that, while subpopulations of PV-expressing interneurons showed heterogeneous responses, the population in general was largely suppressed during locomotion, while excitatory population responses were generally enhanced in AuD. Therefore, neurons in primary and dorsal auditory fields have distinct response properties, with dorsal regions exhibiting enhanced activity in response to movement. This functional distinction may be important for auditory processing during navigation and acoustically guided behavior.

New benzimidazoles as thrombopoietin receptor agonists.

A novel benzimidazole series of small-molecule thrombopoietin receptor agonists has been discovered. Herein, we discuss the preliminary exploration of structure-activity relationships within this chemotype.

Identification of a pharmacophore for thrombopoietic activity of small, non-peptidyl molecules. 1. Discovery and optimization of salicylaldehyde thiosemicarbazone thrombopoietin mimics.

High-throughput screening has resulted in the discovery of thiosemicarbazone thrombopoietin mimics. A shared pharmacophore hypothesis between this series and a previously identified class, the pyrazol-4-ylidenehydrazines, led to the rapid optimization of both potency and efficacy of the thiosemicarbazones. The application of high-throughput chemistry and purification techniques allowed for the rapid elucidation of structure-activity relationships.

Identification of a pharmacophore for thrombopoietic activity of small, non-peptidyl molecules. 2. Rational design of naphtho[1,2-d]imidazole thrombopoietin mimics.

The invention of a new class of naphtho[1,2-d]imidazole thrombopoietin mimics based on a pharmacophore hypothesis for small-molecule thrombopoietic agonists is discussed. Parallel array synthesis and purification techniques allowed for the rapid exploration of structure-activity relationships within this class and for the improvement in TPO mimetic potencies and efficacies.

Synthesis of the Pentacyclic Skeleton of the Aspidosperma Alkaloids Using Rhodium Carbenoids as Reactive Intermediates.

A series of diazo amido keto esters prepared from N-alkenyl-substituted 3-carbalkoxy-2-piperidone derivatives was treated with rhodium(II) acetate. Attack of the amido carbonyl oxygen at the resultant rhodium carbenoid center produced a transient push-pull carbonyl ylide dipole which underwent an intramolecular dipolar cycloaddition reaction. A related annulation sequence was used to prepare the pentacyclic skeleton of the aspidosperma family of alkaloids. Synthesis of the required diazo imide was carried out from 3-carboxy-3-ethyl-2-piperidone and N-methyl-3-indoleacetic acid. Treatment of the diazo imide with rhodium(II) acetate afforded a transient 1,3-dipole which subsequently underwent cycloaddition across the indole pi-bond. The resulting cycloadduct is the consequence of endo cycloaddition with respect to the dipole which is fully in accord with the lowest energy transition state. The cycloadduct was converted in three steps into desacetoxy-4-oxo-6,7-dihydrovindorosine. The stereochemistry of the final product was established by a X-ray crystallographic study.

Theoretical Insights Regarding the Cycloaddition Behavior of Push-Pull Stabilized Carbonyl Ylides.

A series of diazoamido keto esters were prepared by the reaction of N-substituted 3-carbethoxy-2-piperidone with n-butylmagnesium chloride followed by the addition of ethyl 2-diazomalonyl chloride. Treatment of these diazo amides with rhodium(II) acetate afforded transient push-pull carbonyl ylide dipoles which could be readily trapped with electron deficient dipolarophiles. All attempts to induce the dipolar cycloaddition to occur across tethered alkenyl pi-bonds failed to give internal cycloadducts. However, placing a sp(2) center on the tethered side chain was found to result in the formation of a tricyclic adduct in 95% yield. The stereochemistry of the cycloadduct was firmly established by an X-ray crystallographic study and occurred endo with respect to the amido carbonyl ylide dipole. A detailed computational study was undertaken to provide better insight into the factors that influence the intramolecular cycloaddition process. The calculations indicate that a severe cross-ring 1,3-diaxial interaction caused by the bridgehead methyl group promotes a boat or twist-boat conformation in the piperidine ring fused to the newly forming one. The presence of a carbonyl group in the dipolarophile tether helps to relieve the steric congestion by virtue of favoring a second boat in the latter ring. Without the C=O group, both nascent and piperidine rings are in the chair conformation at lowest energy, and the reaction barrier is disadvantaged by 5.6 kcal/mol, allowing other competing processes to intervene.

Tandem Dipolar Cycloaddition-Mannich Cyclization as an Approach to Tricyclic Nitrogen Heterocycles.

A series of 2-diazo-N-[2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethyl]-N-hept-6-enoylmalonamides were prepared and treated with a catalytic amount of rhodium(II) perfluorobutyrate. The resultant carbenoids undergo facile cyclization onto the neighboring amide carbonyl oxygen atom to generate isomünchnone-type intermediates. Subsequent 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition across the pendant olefin affords intramolecular cycloadducts in high yield. Exposure of these cycloadducts to boron trifluoride etherate results in a Lewis acid-induced ring opening to generate N-acyliminium ions which then undergo Mannich cyclization onto the neighboring pi-framework attached to the amide nitrogen atom. The cis stereochemistry of the resulting A/B ring fusion is analogous to similar erythrinane products obtained via a Mondon-enamide-type cyclization. The stereochemical assignment of the final cyclized products was determined by X-ray crystallography. Molecular mechanics calculations show that the ground state energy of the cis-fused diastereomer is 4.6 kcal lower than that of the trans diastereomer, and presumably some of this thermodynamic energy difference is reflected in the transition state for cyclization. In certain cases, proton loss from the initially formed N-acyliminium ion occurs prior to cyclization to give acyl enamides which subsequently cyclize producing epimeric products.