Catalytic asymmetric aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of methyl acrylate: role of a bifunctional La(O-iPr)3/linked-BINOL complex.

The catalytic asymmetric aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction using unactivated methyl acrylate is described. A simple Lewis acidic metal catalyst, such as La(OTf)(3), was not suitable for the reaction, but rare earth metal alkoxide/linked-BINOL complexes possessing bifunctional Lewis acid and Brønsted base properties efficiently promoted the reaction in combination with an achiral nucleophilic organocatalyst. The combined use of a La(O-iPr)(3)/(S,S)-TMS-linked-BINOL complex with a catalytic amount of DABCO promoted the aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of a broad range of N-diphenylphosphinoyl imines. Products from aryl, heteroaryl, and alkenyl imines were obtained in 67-99% yield and 81-95% ee. It is noteworthy that isomerizable alkyl imines could be employed as well, giving products in 78-89% yield and 94-98% ee. Initial rate kinetic studies as well as kinetic isotope effect experiments using alpha-deuterio-methyl acrylate support the importance of both the nucleophilicity of La-enolate and the Brønsted basicity of a La-catalyst for promoting the reaction.

Chemically induced cardiomyogenesis of mouse embryonic stem cells.

A transgenic murine embryonic stem (ES) cell lineage expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under the control of alpha-myosine heavy chain (alpha-MHC) promoter (palpha-MHC-EGFP) was used to investigate the effects of (thio)urea and cinchona alkaloid derivatives on cardiomyogenesis. The screening of the compounds yielded cardiomyogenesis inducing substances with good (IV-5, V-4) to very good activities (II-16, IV-8), as determined by a 50 to 80 % increase in the EGFP fluorescence compared to untreated cells. Time-dependent screening approaches in which compounds were added at different developmental stages of the ES cells appeared to be of limited suitability for the identification of potential cellular targets.

A chemical genetics approach for specific differentiation of stem cells to somatic cells: a new promising therapeutical approach.

Cell replacement therapy of severe degenerative diseases such as diabetes, myocardial infarction and Parkinson's disease through transplantation of somatic cells generated from embryonic stem (ES) cells is currently receiving considerable attention for the therapeutic applications. ES cells harvested from the inner cell mass (ICM) of the early embryo, can proliferate indefinitely in vitro while retaining the ability to differentiate into all somatic cells thereby providing an unlimited renewable source of somatic cells. In this context, identifying soluble factors, in particular chemically synthesized small molecules, and signal cascades involved in specific differentiation processes toward a defined tissue specific cell type are crucial for optimizing the generation of somatic cells in vitro for therapeutic approaches. However, experimental models are required allowing rapid and "easy-to-handle" parallel screening of chemical libraries to achieve this goal. Recently, the forward chemical genetic screening strategy has been postulated to screen small molecules in cellular systems for a specific desired phenotypic effect. The current review is focused on the progress of ES cell research in the context of the chemical genetics to identify small molecules promoting specific differentiation of ES cells to desired cell phenotype. Chemical genetics in the context of the cell ES-based cell replacement therapy remains a challenge for the near future for several scientific fields including chemistry, molecular biology, medicinal physics and robotic technologies.

Identification of small signalling molecules promoting cardiac-specific differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells.

Identification of signalling cascades involved in cardiomyogenesis is crucial for optimising the generation of cardiomyocytes from embryonic stem cells (ES cells) (in vitro). We used a transgenic ES cell lineage expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under the control of the alpha-myosin heavy chain (alpha-MHC) promoter (palphaMHC-EGFP) to investigate the effects of 33 small molecules interfering with several signalling cascades on cardiomyogenesis. Interestingly, the L-Type Ca2+ channel blocker Verapamil as well as Cyclosporin, an inhibitor of the protein phosphatase 2B, exerted the most striking pro-cardiomyogenic effect. Forskolin (adenylate cyclase stimulator) exerted the most striking anti-cardiomyogenic effect. The cardiomyogenic effect of Cyclosporin and Verapamil correlated with an expression of early cardiac markers Nkx2.5 and GATA4. Compared to the effects on late developmental stage embryoid bodies (EBs) stimulation of early developmental stage EBs (1-day old) with Verapamil or Cyclosporin for 48 h resulted in a potent cardiomyogenic effect. Accordingly, enhanced expression of alpha-MHC mRNA and EGFP mRNA was observed after stimulation of the early developmental stage EBs for 48 h. No expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin or platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECM-1) as well as of neuronal genes (Nestin, Neurofilament H) has been observed demonstrating a preferentially pro-cardiomyogenic effect by both molecules.