No abstract

The proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin-type 9 (PCSK9) binds to low-density lipoprotein receptors (LDLR), thereby trafficking them to lysosomes upon endocytosis and enhancing intracellular degradation to prevent their recycling. As a result, the levels of circulating LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) increase, which is a prominent risk factor for developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD). Thus, PCSK9 has become a promising therapeutic target that offers a fertile testing ground for new drug modalities to regulate plasma LDL-C levels to prevent ASCVD. In this review, we have discussed the role of PCSK9 in lipid metabolism and briefly summarized the current clinical status of modalities targeting PCSK9. In particular, a detailed overview of peptide-based PCSK9 inhibitors is presented, which emphasizes their structural features and design, therapeutic effects on patients, and preclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) models, along with PCSK9 modulation mechanisms. As a promising alternative to monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for managing LDL-C, anti-PCSK9 peptides are emerging as a prospective next generation therapy.

An efficient, three-component domino reaction between aldehydes, amines, and the Bestmann-Ohira reagent is reported that enables a general, mild, and straightforward access to 1,4,5-trisubstituted 1,2,3-triazolines and triazoles. The reaction proceeds through a domino-condensation/1,3-dipolar cycloaddition sequence to afford the triazoline derivatives with excellent diastereoselectivity. Moreover, when both amine and aldehyde employed for this reaction are aromatic, a spontaneous oxidation afforded 1,4,5-trisubstituted triazoles in moderate yields.

A mild, efficient and rapid domino reaction involving the Bestmann-Ohira reagent (BOR) and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes has been developed for the synthesis of densely functionalized vinylpyrazoles. This reaction demonstrates the dual reactivity of BOR as a homologation reagent as well as a cycloaddition partner, thus constituting a domino reaction in an operationally simple procedure. The application of this efficient synthesis of pyrazoles has been demonstrated for the synthesis of phosphonyl analogues of pyrrolopyrazole alkaloids.