Vitamin D receptor (VDR) antagonists can be classified into two categories: the first category of VDR antagonists, which do not stabilize the helix 11-12, and the second category of antagonists, which destabilize the helix 6-7 region. To elucidate the mechanism underlying the first category antagonists by using the crystal structure, we designed and synthesized several VDR ligands with a p-hydroxyphenyl group at the C25-position. Of these, 22S-butyl-25-carbonyl analogue 5b and 25-di-p-hydoroxyphenyl analogues 6a,b showed strong antagonistic activity. We succeeded in cocrystallizing the ligand-binding domain of VDR complexed with 5b and found that the structure showed an alternative conformation of the helix 11-12 that explained the mechanism of the first category antagonists. Taking the present and previous studies together, we could elucidate the mechanisms underlying first and second categories antagonists based on individual crystal structures. This study provides significant insights into antagonism against not only VDR but also nuclear receptors.

Lithocholic acid (2) was identified as a second endogenous ligand of vitamin D receptor (VDR), though its activity is very weak. In this study, we designed novel lithocholic acid derivatives based on the crystal structure of VDR–ligand-binding domain (LBD) bound to 2. Among the synthesized compounds, 6 bearing a 2-hydroxy-2-methylprop-1-yl group instead of the 3-hydroxy group at the 3α-position of 2 showed dramatically increased activity in HL-60 cell differentiation assay, being at least 10 000 times more potent than lithocholic acid (2) and 3 times more potent than 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1). Although the binding affinities of 6 and its epimer 7 were less than that of 1, their transactivation activities were greater than that of 1. X-ray structure analyses of VDR LBD bound to 6 or 7 showed that the binding positions of these compounds in the ligand-binding pocket are similar to that of 1.

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The first asymmetric total synthesis of lycoposerramine-R, a Lycopodium alkaloid possessing a novel skeleton, was accomplished by a strategy featuring the stereoselective intramolecular aldol cyclization giving a cis-fused 5/6 bicyclic skeleton and a new method for the construction of the pyridone ring via the aza-Wittig reaction.

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