Gold-catalyzed synthesis of enantioenriched furfurylamines from amino acids

International audienceA convenient gold-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of polysubstituted furfurylamines starting from amino acids has been achieved. The cyclization proceeded under mild conditions and generally provided the furan or iodofuran derivatives in good to excellent yields and with high enantiomeric excess. Iodofurans were validated as good intermediates for classical organometallic coupling reactions

First Synthesis of Racemic Trans Propargylamino-Donepezil, a Pleiotrope Agent Able to Both Inhibit AChE and MAO-B, with Potential Interest against Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease towards which pleiotropic approach using Multi-Target Directed Ligands is nowadays recognized as probably convenient. Among the numerous targets which are today validated against AD, acetylcholinesterase (ACh) and Monoamine Oxidase-B (MAO-B) appear as particularly convincing, especially if displayed by a sole agent such as ladostigil, currently in clinical trial in AD. Considering these results, we wanted to take benefit of the structural analogy lying in donepezil (DPZ) and rasagiline, two indane derivatives marketed as AChE and MAO-B inhibitors, respectively, and to propose the synthesis and the preliminary in vitro biological characterization of a structural compromise between these two compounds, we called propargylaminodonepezil (PADPZ). The synthesis of racemic trans PADPZ was achieved and its biological evaluation established its inhibitory activities towards both (h)AChE (IC50 = 0.4 uM) and (h)MAO-B (IC50 = 6.4 uM)

The GRAVITY+ Project: Towards All-sky, Faint-Science, High-Contrast Near-Infrared Interferometry at the VLTI

The GRAVITY instrument has been revolutionary for near-infrared interferometry by pushing sensitivity and precision to previously unknown limits. With the upgrade of GRAVITY and the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) in GRAVITY+, these limits will be pushed even further, with vastly improved sky coverage, as well as faint-science and high-contrast capabilities. This upgrade includes the implementation of wide-field off-axis fringe-tracking, new adaptive optics systems on all Unit Telescopes, and laser guide stars in an upgraded facility. GRAVITY+ will open up the sky to the measurement of black hole masses across cosmic time in hundreds of active galactic nuclei, use the faint stars in the Galactic centre to probe General Relativity, and enable the characterisation of dozens of young exoplanets to study their formation, bearing the promise of another scientific revolution to come at the VLTI.Comment: Published in the ESO Messenge

Synthèse de pyrroles polysubstitués par cyclisation à l'or : évaluation de l'activité de 3-arylpyrroles sur les microtubules

A family of 3-arylpyrroles named pyakols have shown antimitotic properties on murine cell lines, displaying in particular an effect on microtubules. Given the interest of these properties in cancerology, this work is focused on these heterocycles. The objective of the first part was to develop a synthetic strategy based on the gold-catalysed cyclisation of α-amino-ynols intermediates in order to access the lead (Pyakol I). Then, the evaluation of the biological activity of this molecule on the cell cycle and on the cytoskeleton of various human tumoral cell lines was carried out. The first results revealed an original effect on the organization of the microtubules network and the positioning of the mitotic spindle. The developed strategy was then validated by modulating the 3-arylpyrrole moiety on diverse positions, and used for the synthesis of labelled derivatives. The second part of this manuscript focused on the development of a methodology to synthesize new polysubstituted 3-trifluoromethylpyrroles, based on the gold-catalyzed cyclisation reaction. Using trifluoroacetaldehyde as building-block, various trifluoromethylated pyrroles were obtained in mild conditions with good yields.Des composés de type 3-arylpyrroles appelés pyakols ont montré une activité antimitotique sur des cellules tumorales murines, avec en particulier un effet sur les microtubules. Ce type d’activité biologique présentant un intérêt important en cancérologie, le travail présenté dans ce manuscrit est consacré à l’étude de ces hétérocycles. La première partie a pour objectif de développer une stratégie de synthèse permettant d’accéder efficacement au composé chef de file (pyakol I), basée sur la cyclisation d’intermédiaires α-amino-ynols catalysée par des complexes d’or. L’évaluation de l’activité biologique du pyakol I sur le cycle cellulaire et le cytosquelette de diverses lignées tumorales humaines a été réalisée. Les premiers résultats ont révélé une action originale du pyakol I sur le cytosquelette, provoquant une désorganisation du réseau de microtubules et un défaut de positionnement du fuseau mitotique. La séquence réactionnelle a ensuite été validée en l’appliquant pour la réalisation de modulations autour du motif 3-arylpyrrole ainsi que pour l’obtention de molécules marquées. La deuxième partie concerne un travail de méthodologie basée sur la réaction de cyclisation à l’or pour la synthèse de nouveaux pyrroles trifluorométhylés polysubstitués. La stratégie utilisant le trifluoroacétaldéhyde comme substrat de départ permet d’accéder à divers 3-trifluorométhylpyrroles avec de bons rendements, dans des conditions douces

Polysubstituted pyrroles synthesis via gold-catalysed cyclisation : evaluation of the activity of 3-arylpyrroles on microtubules

Des composés de type 3-arylpyrroles appelés pyakols ont montré une activité antimitotique sur des cellules tumorales murines, avec en particulier un effet sur les microtubules. Ce type d’activité biologique présentant un intérêt important en cancérologie, le travail présenté dans ce manuscrit est consacré à l’étude de ces hétérocycles. La première partie a pour objectif de développer une stratégie de synthèse permettant d’accéder efficacement au composé chef de file (pyakol I), basée sur la cyclisation d’intermédiaires α-amino-ynols catalysée par des complexes d’or. L’évaluation de l’activité biologique du pyakol I sur le cycle cellulaire et le cytosquelette de diverses lignées tumorales humaines a été réalisée. Les premiers résultats ont révélé une action originale du pyakol I sur le cytosquelette, provoquant une désorganisation du réseau de microtubules et un défaut de positionnement du fuseau mitotique. La séquence réactionnelle a ensuite été validée en l’appliquant pour la réalisation de modulations autour du motif 3-arylpyrrole ainsi que pour l’obtention de molécules marquées. La deuxième partie concerne un travail de méthodologie basée sur la réaction de cyclisation à l’or pour la synthèse de nouveaux pyrroles trifluorométhylés polysubstitués. La stratégie utilisant le trifluoroacétaldéhyde comme substrat de départ permet d’accéder à divers 3-trifluorométhylpyrroles avec de bons rendements, dans des conditions douces.A family of 3-arylpyrroles named pyakols have shown antimitotic properties on murine cell lines, displaying in particular an effect on microtubules. Given the interest of these properties in cancerology, this work is focused on these heterocycles. The objective of the first part was to develop a synthetic strategy based on the gold-catalysed cyclisation of α-amino-ynols intermediates in order to access the lead (Pyakol I). Then, the evaluation of the biological activity of this molecule on the cell cycle and on the cytoskeleton of various human tumoral cell lines was carried out. The first results revealed an original effect on the organization of the microtubules network and the positioning of the mitotic spindle. The developed strategy was then validated by modulating the 3-arylpyrrole moiety on diverse positions, and used for the synthesis of labelled derivatives. The second part of this manuscript focused on the development of a methodology to synthesize new polysubstituted 3-trifluoromethylpyrroles, based on the gold-catalyzed cyclisation reaction. Using trifluoroacetaldehyde as building-block, various trifluoromethylated pyrroles were obtained in mild conditions with good yields

Gold-Catalyzed Synthesis of Substituted 3‑Trifluoromethylpyrroles from Mesylated Amino Trifluoromethylpropargylic Alcohols

A series of substituted 3-trifluoromethylpyrroles was obtained from trifluoromethylamino-ynol derivatives via a gold-catalyzed cyclization. Using fluorinated starting materials, after mesylation, allowed for the desired compounds to be obtained in good yields under mild conditions

Trichodesmium physiological ecology and phosphate reduction in the western tropical South Pacific

International audienceN 2 fixation by the genus Trichodesmium is predicted to support a large proportion of the primary productivity across the oligotrophic oceans, regions that are considered among the largest biomes on Earth. Many of these environments remain poorly sampled, limiting our understanding of Trichodesmium physiological ecology in these critical oligotrophic regions. Trichodesmium colonies, communities that consist of the Trichodesmium host and their associated microbiome, were collected across the oligotrophic western tropical South Pacific (WTSP). These samples were used to assess host clade distribution, host and microbiome metabolic potential, and functional gene expression, with a focus on identifying Trichodesmium physiological ecology in this region. Genes sets related to phosphorus, iron, and phosphorus-iron co-limitation were dynamically expressed across the WTSP transect, suggestive of the importance of these resources in driving Trichodesmium physiological ecology in this region. A gene cassette for phosphonate biosynthesis was detected in Trichodesmium, the expression of which co-varied with the abundance of Trichodesmium Clade III, which was unusually abundant relative to Clade I in this environment. Coincident with the expression of the gene cassette, phosphate reduction to phosphite and low-molecular-weight phosphonate compounds was measured in Trichodesmium colonies. The expression of genes that enable use of such reduced-phosphorus compounds were also measured in both Trichodesmium and the microbiome. Overall , these results highlight physiological strategies employed by consortia in an undersampled region of the oligotrophic WTSP and reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying previously observed high rates of phosphorus reduction in Tri-chodesmium colonies

First Synthesis of Racemic Trans Propargylamino-Donepezil, a Pleiotrope Agent Able to Both Inhibit AChE and MAO-B, with Potential Interest against Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease towards which pleiotropic approach using Multi-Target Directed Ligands is nowadays recognized as probably convenient. Among the numerous targets which are today validated against AD, acetylcholinesterase (ACh) and Monoamine Oxidase-B (MAO-B) appear as particularly convincing, especially if displayed by a sole agent such as ladostigil, currently in clinical trial in AD. Considering these results, we wanted to take benefit of the structural analogy lying in donepezil (DPZ) and rasagiline, two indane derivatives marketed as AChE and MAO-B inhibitors, respectively, and to propose the synthesis and the preliminary in vitro biological characterization of a structural compromise between these two compounds, we called propargylaminodonepezil (PADPZ). The synthesis of racemic trans PADPZ was achieved and its biological evaluation established its inhibitory activities towards both (h)AChE (IC50 = 0.4 µM) and (h)MAO-B (IC50 = 6.4 µM)

Adenosine Plasma Level and A2A Receptor Expression in Patients With Cardiogenic Shock

International audienceObjectives:To investigate whether adenosine A2A receptors lead to vasodilation and positive inotropic function under stimulation and whether they play a role in the control of blood pressure in patients with cardiogenic shock.Design:Prospective observational study.Setting:Monocentric, Hopital Nord, Marseille, France.Subjects:Patients with cardiogenic shock (n = 16), acute heart failure (n = 16), and acute myocardial infarction (n = 16).Interventions:None.Measurements and Main Results:Arterial adenosine plasma level and A2A receptor expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cells were evaluated by mass spectrometry and Western blot, respectively, at admission and after 24 hours. Hemodynamic parameters, including systemic vascular resistance, were also assessed. Mean adenosine plasma level at admission was significantly higher in patients with cardiogenic shock (2.74 ± 1.03 µM) versus acute heart failure (1.33 ± 0.27) or acute myocardial infarction (1.19 ± 0.27) (normal range, 0.4–0.8 µM) (p < 0.0001). No significant correlation was found between adenosine plasma level and systemic vascular resistance. Mean adenosine plasma level decreased significantly by 24 hours after admission in patients with cardiogenic shock (2.74 ± 1.03 to 1.53 ± 0.68; p < 0.001). Mean A2A receptor expression was significantly lower in patients with cardiogenic shock (1.18 ± 0.11) versus acute heart failure (1.18 ± 0.11 vs 1.39 ± 0.08) (p = 0.005).Conclusions:We observed high adenosine plasma level and low A2A receptor expression at admission in patients with cardiogenic shock versus acute heart failure or acute myocardial infarction. This may contribute to the physiopathology of cardiogenic shock