Galectin-1 Is Part of Human Trophoblast Invasion Machinery - A Functional Study In Vitro

Interactions of glycoconjugates with endogenous galectins, have been long proposed to participate in several reproductive processes including implantation. In human placenta gal-1, gal-3, gal-8, and gal-13 proteins are known to be present. Each of them has been proposed to play multiple functions, but so far no clear picture has emerged. We hypothesized that gal-1 participates in trophoblast invasion, and conducted Matrigel invasion assay using isolated cytotrophoblast from first trimester placenta and HTR-8/SVneo cell line to test it.<0.001) by Ox-gal-1 at 1 µg/ml. Both sets of results confirmed involvement of gal-1 in trophoblast invasion. Galectin profile of isolated cytotrophoblast and HTR-8/SVneo cells was established using RT-PCR and real-time PCR and found to consist of gal-1, gal-3 and gal-8 for both cell types. Only gal-1 was located at the trophoblast cell membrane, as determined by FACS analysis, which is consistent with the results of the functional tests.These findings qualify gal-1 as a member of human trophoblast cell invasion machinery

Synthesis of heterocyclic compounds via gold-catalysed enyne rearrangements

Syntheses of heterocycles using different gold-catalysed rearrangements of enynes are discussed in this chapter. The term skeletal rearrangement has been used in a broad sense to include reactions involving cyclopropyl gold carbene intermediates formed by initial enyne cyclisation, which can undergo many different transformations to give a wide range of heterocyclic structures. Other transformations involving rearrangement of propargylic esters and [3,3]-rearrangement (concerted or stepwise comprising metallic intermediates), as well as special cases, have also been covered. References to earlier work in this area and to recent reviews have been included, but the focus of the chapter is to present recent developments, interesting cases and an overview on how subtle differences in the enyne starting materials, the catalyst used or the reaction conditions can alter the reaction pathway increasing the structural diversity towards complex heterocyclic structures of high value