The study of the anthelmintic terpenoid components from the Fiji sponge Axinyssa fenestratus (senior synonym of Leucophloeus fenestratus) and two Thailand sponges, Acanthella cavernosa and Topsentia sp., has yielded several new nitrogen-containing sesqui- and diterpenes of known carbon skeletons. Amorphane sesquiterpenes from A. fenestratus included (1R, 6S, 7S, 10S)-10-isothiocyanato-4-amorphene [(+)-1] and new metabolites (1R*, 4S*, 6R*, 7S*)-4-isothiocyanato-9-amorphene [2], 10-isothiocyanato-4,6-amorphadiene [3], and (4S*, 10S*)-10-isothiocyanato-5-amorphen-4-ol [4]. The amorphene (+)-1 of this study may be antipodal to (-)-1 previously isolated from a Hawaiian sponge. A similar relationship may exist at C-1, C-6, C-7 between (+)-2 of this study and (-)-11 isolated from a Palauian sponge. Another known sesquiterpene, axisonitrile 3 [5] was obtained from Topsentia sp. The diterpenes obtained from A. cavernosa included known kalihinols X [6] and Y [8] and new kalihinols J [7] and I [9]. Those terpenoids with potent antiparasite activity include 1, 2, 3-5, and 7-9.

No abstract

No abstract

A structure-based drug design strategy was used to optimize a novel benzolactam series of HSP90α/β inhibitors to achieve >1000-fold selectivity versus the HSP90 endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial isoforms (GRP94 and TRAP1, respectively). Selective HSP90α/β inhibitors were found to be equipotent to pan-HSP90 inhibitors in promoting the clearance of mutant huntingtin protein (mHtt) in vitro, however with less cellular toxicity. Improved tolerability profiles may enable the use of HSP90α/β selective inhibitors in treating chronic neurodegenerative indications such as Huntington's disease (HD). A potent, selective, orally available HSP90α/β inhibitor was identified (compound 31) that crosses the blood-brain barrier. Compound 31 demonstrated proof of concept by successfully reducing brain Htt levels following oral dosing in rats.

No abstract