Iminoboronates as Dual-Purpose Linkers in Chemical Probe Development

Chemical probes that covalently modify proteins of interest are powerful tools for the research of biological processes. Important in the design of a probe is the choice of reactive group that forms the covalent bond, as it decides the success of a probe. However, choosing the right reactive group is not a simple feat and methodologies for expedient screening of different groups are needed. We herein report a modular approach that allows easy coupling of a reactive group to a ligand. α-Nucleophile ligands are combined with 2-formylphenylboronic acid derived reactive groups to form iminoboronate probes that selectively label their target proteins. A transimination reaction on the labeled proteins with an α-amino hydrazide provides further modification, for example to introduce a fluorophore.</p

Quantification of the Time Course of CYP3A Inhibition, Activation, and Induction Using a Population Pharmacokinetic Model of Microdosed Midazolam Continuous Infusion

Background Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A contributes to the metabolism of many approved drugs. CYP3A perpetrator drugs can profoundly alter the exposure of CYP3A substrates. However, effects of such drug-drug interactions are usually reported as maximum effects rather than studied as time-dependent processes. Identification of the time course of CYP3A modulation can provide insight into when significant changes to CYP3A activity occurs, help better design drug-drug interaction studies, and manage drug-drug interactions in clinical practice. Objective We aimed to quantify the time course and extent of the in vivo modulation of different CYP3A perpetrator drugs on hepatic CYP3A activity and distinguish different modulatory mechanisms by their time of onset, using pharmacologically inactive intravenous microgram doses of the CYP3A-specific substrate midazolam, as a marker of CYP3A activity. Methods Twenty-four healthy individuals received an intravenous midazolam bolus followed by a continuous infusion for 10 or 36 h. Individuals were randomized into four arms: within each arm, two individuals served as a placebo control and, 2 h after start of the midazolam infusion, four individuals received the CYP3A perpetrator drug: voriconazole (inhibitor, orally or intravenously), rifampicin (inducer, orally), or efavirenz (activator, orally). After midazolam bolus administration, blood samples were taken every hour (rifampicin arm) or every 15 min (remaining study arms) until the end of midazolam infusion. A total of 1858 concentrations were equally divided between midazolam and its metabolite, 1’-hydroxymidazolam. A nonlinear mixed-effects population pharmacokinetic model of both compounds was developed using NONMEM®. CYP3A activity modulation was quantified over time, as the relative change of midazolam clearance encountered by the perpetrator drug, compared to the corresponding clearance value in the placebo arm. Results Time course of CYP3A modulation and magnitude of maximum effect were identified for each perpetrator drug. While efavirenz CYP3A activation was relatively fast and short, reaching a maximum after approximately 2–3 h, the induction effect of rifampicin could only be observed after 22 h, with a maximum after approximately 28–30 h followed by a steep drop to almost baseline within 1–2 h. In contrast, the inhibitory impact of both oral and intravenous voriconazole was prolonged with a steady inhibition of CYP3A activity followed by a gradual increase in the inhibitory effect until the end of sampling at 8 h. Relative maximum clearance changes were +59.1%, +46.7%, −70.6%, and −61.1% for efavirenz, rifampicin, oral voriconazole, and intravenous voriconazole, respectively. Conclusions We could distinguish between different mechanisms of CYP3A modulation by the time of onset. Identification of the time at which clearance significantly changes, per perpetrator drug, can guide the design of an optimal sampling schedule for future drug-drug interaction studies. The impact of a short-term combination of different perpetrator drugs on the paradigm CYP3A substrate midazolam was characterized and can define combination intervals in which no relevant interaction is to be expected. Clinical Trial Registration The trial was registered at the European Union Drug Regulating Authorities for Clinical Trials (EudraCT-No. 2013-004869-14)

Wissenschaftliches Reisen

Die Themenklasse 2020/21 möchte mit ihrer Studie einen Grundstein in Richtung nachhaltiger Reisen an der HU legen. Sie hat in ihrer Forschungsarbeit eine wichtige Quelle der CO2-Emissionen, wissenschaftliche (Dienst)-Reisen an der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU), analysiert. Drei Arbeitsgruppen gingen mit quantitativen sowie qualitativen Methoden zwei Semester lang mehreren Fragestellungen nach: Wie groß ist der CO2-Fußabdruck von wissenschaftlichen (Dienst)-Reisen? Aus welchen Gründen und in welchem Umfang werden Dienstreisen angetreten? Gibt es Einsparungspotenziale bzw. wie kann eine eventuelle Kompensation der CO2-Emissionen gestaltet werden? Mit der Beantwortung dieser Fragen stellt die Forschungsarbeit die Datengrundlage der Auswirkungen von wissenschaftlichem Reisen an der HU bereit und bildet Erklärungsmuster für wissenschaftliche Reisen ab. Ebenso zeigt sie Handlungsoptionen zur Speicherung bzw. Einsparung von CO2-Emissionen durch Dienstreisen an der HU auf. Das Zusammenspiel dieser drei Teilbereiche soll als Basis für einen Wandel hin zu klimabewussterem Reisen und der Implementierung eines CO2-Kompensationssystems an der HU fungieren. Die Themenklasse positioniert sich damit auch nachdrücklich zu den Möglichkeiten und der Verantwortung des Wissenschaftsbetriebes für mehr Nachhaltigkeit

The G2A Receptor Controls Polarization of Macrophage by Determining Their Localization Within the Inflamed Tissue

Macrophages are highly versatile cells, which acquire, depending on their microenvironment, pro- (M1-like), or antiinflammatory (M2-like) phenotypes. Here, we studied the role of the G-protein coupled receptor G2A (GPR132), in chemotactic migration and polarization of macrophages, using the zymosan-model of acute inflammation. G2A-deficient mice showed a reduced zymosan-induced thermal hyperalgesia, which was reversed after macrophage depletion. Fittingly, the number of M1-like macrophages was reduced in the inflamed tissue in G2A-deficient mice. However, G2A activation was not sufficient to promote M1-polarization in bone marrow-derived macrophages. While the number of monocyte-derived macrophages in the inflamed paw was not altered, G2A-deficient mice had less macrophages in the direct vicinity of the origin of inflammation, an area marked by the presence of zymosan, neutrophil accumulation and proinflammatory cytokines. Fittingly neutrophil efferocytosis was decreased in G2A-deficient mice and several lipids, which are released by neutrophils and promote G2A-mediated chemotaxis, were increased in the inflamed tissue. Taken together, G2A is necessary to position macrophages in the proinflammatory microenvironment surrounding the center of inflammation. In absence of G2A the macrophages are localized in an antiinflammatory microenvironment and macrophage polarization is shifted toward M2-like macrophages

¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁵N and ³¹P chemical shift assignment for stem-loop 4 from the 5′-UTR of SARS-CoV-2

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is the cause of the respiratory disease COVID-19. As of today, therapeutic interventions in severe COVID-19 cases are still not available as no effective therapeutics have been developed so far. Despite the ongoing development of a number of effective vaccines, therapeutics to fight the disease once it has been contracted will still be required. Promising targets for the development of antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2 can be found in the viral RNA genome. The 5′- and 3′-genomic ends of the 30 kb SCoV-2 genome are highly conserved among Betacoronaviruses and contain structured RNA elements involved in the translation and replication of the viral genome. The 40 nucleotides (nt) long highly conserved stem-loop 4 (5_SL4) is located within the 5′-untranslated region (5′-UTR) important for viral replication. 5_SL4 features an extended stem structure disrupted by several pyrimidine mismatches and is capped by a pentaloop. Here, we report extensive ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁵N and ³¹P resonance assignments of 5_SL4 as the basis for in-depth structural and ligand screening studies by solution NMR spectroscopy

The genetic architecture of the human cerebral cortex

The cerebral cortex underlies our complex cognitive capabilities, yet little is known about the specific genetic loci that influence human cortical structure. To identify genetic variants that affect cortical structure, we conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis of brain magnetic resonance imaging data from 51,665 individuals. We analyzed the surface area and average thickness of the whole cortex and 34 regions with known functional specializations. We identified 199 significant loci and found significant enrichment for loci influencing total surface area within regulatory elements that are active during prenatal cortical development, supporting the radial unit hypothesis. Loci that affect regional surface area cluster near genes in Wnt signaling pathways, which influence progenitor expansion and areal identity. Variation in cortical structure is genetically correlated with cognitive function, Parkinson's disease, insomnia, depression, neuroticism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder