The total synthesis of sandramycin has been accomplished by using a Staudinger/aza-Wittig/diastereoselective Ugi three-component reaction sequence as a key step to obtain a linear pentadepsipeptide. Subsequent [5 + 5] coupling of the penptapeptide, macrolactamization, and introduction of the quinaldin chromophores afforded sandramycin. Dihydroxy and diacetoxy analogues were also prepared, and the cytotoxic activity of these analogues against a range of human cancer cell lines was evaluated.

The second-generation total synthesis of quinaldopeptin (1) was established via a Staudinger/aza-Wittig/diastereoselective Ugi three-component reaction sequence and a racemization-free [5 + 5] coupling and macrolactamization. A single-crystal X-ray structure of the chromophore analogue 26 confirmed the structural and stereochemical assignments of the macrocycle. Synthetic 1 successfully unwound supercoiled DNA to form a relaxed DNA in a dose-dependent manner, the binding affinity of 1 to four dsODNs was within a similar range (K(b) = 1.45-2.53 × 10(7) M(-1)), and the sequence selectivity was subtle. It was suggested that 1 possesses biological behaviors similar to those of sandramycin (2) in terms of cytotoxic activity against human cancer cell lines (IC50 = 3.2-12 nM) and HIF-1 inhibitory activity.

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Therapeutic reactivation of the γ-globin genes for fetal hemoglobin (HbF) production is an attractive strategy for treating β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease. It was reported that genetic knockdown of the histone lysine methyltransferase EHMT2/1 (G9a/GLP) is sufficient to induce HbF production. The aim of the present work was to acquire a G9a/GLP inhibitor that induces HbF production sufficiently. It was revealed that tetrahydroazepine has versatility as a side chain in various skeletons. We ultimately obtained a promising aminoindole derivative (DS79932728), a potent and orally bioavailable G9a/GLP inhibitor that was found to induce γ-globin production in a phlebotomized cynomolgus monkey model. This work could facilitate the development of effective new approaches for treating β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease.

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