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 α-myosin heavy chain (α-MHC) promoter (pαMHC-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 α-MHC mRNA and EGFP mRNA was observed after stimulation of the early developmental stage EBs for 48 h. No expression of ?-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.
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.
A facile two-step procedure for the preparation of Takemoto's catalyst is reported. The thiourea moiety was obtained by condensation of 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)aniline with phenyl chlorothioformate and in situ substitution of phenol by trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane. Subsequent reductive dimethylation using formaldehyde/zinc afforded Takemoto's catalyst.
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.
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