Islet transplantations have been successful in restoring glucose homeostasis in patients with diabetes; however, the limited number of donor organs limits the success of this treatment. The lineage reprograming of different cell sources to beta cells potentially provides an unlimited supply of insulin-producing cells for regenerative therapy for patients with diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability to transdifferentiate two cell lines into an endocrine lineage. Insulin production in pancreatic beta cells can be increased using a small molecule, 3,5-disubstituted isoxazole, N-cyclopropyl-t-(thiophen-2-yl)isoxazole-3-carboxamide (isoxazole) but its effect on other cell types has not been reported. Here, we investigated the lineage reprogramming of PANC-1 pancreatic ductal cells to insulin producing cells by isoxazole treatment. Gene expression was performed using RT-PCR and qPCR for approximately 30 genes critical to beta cell development and function. In addition, quantitative proteomic profiling was performed using LC-MS by monitoring protein abundance in isoxazole-treated PANC-1 cells compared to time-matched controls. Isoxazole treatment stimulated PANC-1 cells to aggregate into islet-like clusters and gene expression analysis revealed induction of important developmental beta cell markers including NGN3, NEUROD1 and INSULIN. In addition, beta cell surface markers were also upregulated such as CD200, GPR50, TROP-2, GLUT2 and SLC30A8. Using LC-MS a catalogue of approximately 2400 identified proteins was generated; 257 proteins were differentially expressed in isoxazole-treated cells compared to DMSO-vehicle controls at p < 0.05. Amongst the proteins upregulated were molecules that regulate metabolic processes and cytoskeletal reorganisation. The expression of the majority of these proteins has not been previously reported or studied in the context of beta cell differentiation. Functional analysis of the relative protein changes was determined using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, IPA, and gene ontology, GO, software, which revealed the regulation of several cellular canonical pathways including metabolic pathways, cell adhesion, remodelling of epithelial adherens junctions and actin cytoskeleton signalling. The effects of isoxazole were further studied in the A549 lung cancer cell line. Similar effects were observed, such as the induction of pro-endocrine markers NGN3 and NEUROD1 and endocrine-specific hormones INS and GCG. These results indicate that isoxazole has the capacity to transdifferentiate pancreatic and non-pancreatic cell origins into an endocrine lineage. This study reveals the powerful induction capacity of isoxazole in inducing cellular reprogramming events.

Dortmund, Universiẗat, Diss., 1999.

The synthesis of 5-membered heterocyclic rings that bear both amine and carboxylic acid functional groups has been investigated using a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction strategy. These molecules, on incorporation into a chain of amino acids, have the potential to restrict the conformational freedom of the peptide. Cycloaddition of a nitrile oxide, derived from a Boc-protected naturally-occurring a-amino acid, with a pyrrolidine en amine led to a Boc-protected 3-aminoalkylisoxazole amino acid ester. The nitrogen and carbon termini of this isoxazole were coupled to other a-amino acids. Analysis of the dipeptide from coupling to (S)-alanine indicated that the integrity of the chiral centre of the isoxazole had been retained during the synthesis. Molecular modelling of a tripeptide unit incorporating the isoxazole showed that the presence of the ring had, as intended, restricted the conformational freedom of the molecule. Analogous cycloadditions using azomethine imines as the dipole yielded the corresponding tetrahydropyrazoles (pyrazolidines). These dipoles were generated by reaction of an aldehyde with a 1,2-disubstituted hydrazine, followed by elimination of the elements of water from the resulting aminol. Reaction with a dipolarophile bearing an electron withdrawing substituent gave predominantly the 4-substituted pyrazolidine. A study of the scope of the reaction found that, although the required carboxylic acid group could easily be incorporated by use of methyl acrylate as the dipolarophile, it proved impossible to attach an amine group to the ring using this methodology. However, by using one of the nitrogen atoms in the ring as the N-terminus, two pyrazolidines with protected amine and carboxylic acid groups were prepared, and these can be thought of as conformationally restricted B-amino acids.

This project has been part of an ongoing interest in metabolites with a cyclic tricarbonyl motif 1, usually enolised. Coleophomones A C have a unique architecture with the cyclic tricarbonyl motif embedded in an 11-membered ring: A & B exist in aldol equilibrium, B & C are geometric isomers, and D lacks the macrocycle.1,2 Antifungal & antibiotic activity, and inhibition of human heart chymase & bacterial cell-wall transglycosylase, has generated synthetic interest. In an approach distinct from reported studies,3 we propose 4-carbonyl-substituted isoxazoles, from dipolar cycloaddition of nitrile oxides, as building blocks for the tricarbonyl framework. During this investigation precursors to the macrocycles of coleophomones A, B, C and analogues were developed. En route to these precursors we have uncovered and probed a facile and highly unusual benzisoxazole to oxazole rearrangement. *Schemes and figures relating to the abstract can be found within the document proper.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The creation of nanometer-scale (nanoscale) materials has fascinated and inspired the scientific community for more than a quarter of a century because of the wide range of applications of these materials, e.g. applications in drug delivery, medicine, tissue engineering, memory storage, display and audio devices, semiconductors, etc. π-Conjugated dendrimers have a proposed flat packing arrangement. An alternating phenyl isoxazole dendrimer system was developed to investigate this phenomenon. The synthesis of this dendritic system was attempted by divergent and convergent approaches. Preparation of the second generation failed because some functional groups inhibited the monomers to react to the first generation. Other examples of nano materials that have attracted a vast amount of interest are the so-called discotic amphiphiles. Discotic amphiphilic molecules have the potential to self-assemble into helical architectures. Discotic systems bearing chiral polar side chains (one and three respectively) were developed. Their self-assembly was investigated in variable concentration and variable solvent composition experiments. These systems did show signs of aggregation in UV-vis and CD spectroscopy experiments. Thread-like helical structures were observed with transmission electron microscopy. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Nanometer-skaal materiale inspireer en fassineer wetenskaplikes al vir meer as 25 jaar as gevolg van hulle wye verskeidenheid toepassings bv.: die vervoer van geneesmiddels, weefsel ontwerp, geheue stoorspasie, digitale skerms, klank toerusting, geleiers, ens. π-Gekonjugeerde dendrimere het 'n plat drie dimmensionele rangskikking. 'n Afwisselende feniel isoxazole dendrimer stelsel was ontwikkel om hierdie verskynsel te ondersoek. Die sintese van hierdie dendritiese stelsel is aangepak deur divergerende en konvergerende benaderings. Sintese van die tweede generasie het misluk omdat sommige funksionele groepe die monomere geïnhibeer het om te reageer met die eerste generasie. Ander interessante voorbeelde van nano materiale, is die sogenaamde skyfvormige amphiphiles. Skyfvormige amphiphiles het die potensiaal om spontaan te versamel in heliese strukture. Skyfvormige molekules met chirale polêre sykettings (een en drie onderskeidelik) is ontwikkel. Hulle potensiaal om spontaan te versamel is ondersoek met wisselende konsentrasie en wisselende oplosmiddel samestelling eksperimente. Hierdie stelsels het tekens van versameling gewys in UV-vis en CD-spektroskopiese eksperimente. Staaf-vormige heliese strukture is waargeneem met transmissie-elektronmikroskopie.

Synthesis of five-membered heteroaromatic compounds such as pyrazoles, isoxazoles and 1,2,4-oxadiazoles are important for pharmaceutical industry and material science due to their applications. Although there are many methods to prepare such compounds, new variants continue to appear since they exhibit a wide range of biological and medicinal activities. In this thesis, new methods were developed for the synthesis of 4-iodopyrazoles, pyrazoles, isoxazoles, 1,2,4-oxadiazoles and/or 1,2,4-oxadiazepines. In the first part of the study, electrophilic cyclization of &alpha / ,&beta / -alkynic hydrazones by molecular iodine and copper iodide were investigated as new ways for the synthesis of 4-iodopyrazoles and pyrazoles, respectively. Initially, &alpha / ,&beta / -alkynic hydrazones were prepared by the reactions of propargyl aldehydes and ketones with hydrazines. Then &alpha / ,&beta / -alkynic hydrazones were treated with molecular iodine in the presence of NaHCO3, which afforded 4-iodopyrazoles in good to excellent yields. Subsequently, the same reactions were carried out with CuI in the presence of NEt3, which furnished corresponding pyrazoles in good yields. Moreover, ferrocenyl-substituted 4-iodopyrazoles and pyrazole derivatives were synthesized from corresponding

La plupart des bactéries vivent en communautés organisées, appelées biofilms, augmentant leur résistance aux traitements antibiotiques. Ainsi, la formation de biofilms sur les organes et matériels médicaux est considérée comme la cause de la majorité des infections bactériennes. Il est alors important de trouver des traitements pour empêcher ou perturber la formation de ces biofilms. Il a été proposé que les porines de P. Stuartii, Omp-Pst1 et Omp-Pst2, peuvent s’auto-assembler via un steric-zipper, étape responsable du développement initial du biofilm. Ainsi, notre objectif est de synthétiser des inhibiteurs d’interactions entre porines pour limiter ce contact intercellulaire. Nous avons développé des molécules peptidomimétiques basées sur la séquence LGNYR, active dans les deux porines. Pour cela, des réactions de chimie click sur phase solide ont été mises en oeuvre afin de synthétiser des analogues de cette séquence, comme la CuAAC pour introduire un motif triazole, dans une position variable au sein du peptide. Nous avons ainsi développé une méthode rapide et efficace afin de réaliser cette réaction par l’utilisation d’un catalyseur cuivre(I)-N-hétérocyclique carbène stable à l’air. Similairement, de nouvelles conditions ont aussi été mises au point en phase solide afin d’obtenir régiosélectivement des peptides comportant un motif isoxazole 3,4- ou 3,5-disubstitué, par la réaction entre un alcyne et un oxyde de nitrile. Ces cycloadditions 1,3-dipolaires nous ont ainsi permis d’obtenir une première librairie de peptidotriazoles et de peptidoisoxazoles. Il sera enfin possible d’étudier les biofilms grâce à la synthèse de sondes fluorescentes basées sur les inhibiteurs montrant de fortes affinités avec la cible, couplées à un fluorophore dérivé de coumarine. / In the environment, most of bacteria live as organized communities, known as biofilms, enhancing their resistance to antibiotic treatments. Thus the formation of biofilms on organ and indwelling medical devices is considered to cause the majority of bacterial infections in the human body. Thus, to enhance antibiotics efficacy, there is a high need to find treatments to prevent or disrupt biofilm formation. It has been proposed that P. stuartii porins, Omp-Pst1 and Omp-Pst2, can self-associate through a steric zipper, being responsible for the initial development of biofilms. Thus, our objective is to synthesize porin’s self-matching interactions (PSMI) inhibitors to counterfeit this intercellular contact. We developed peptidomimetic molecules based on the LGNYR sequence, that have shown to be active in both porins. Then we used click chemistry to synthesize on solid phase analogues of this sequence, as the solid phase Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) to introduce a triazole moiety into the peptide chain at different positions. We thus developed a fast and efficient method to perform this reaction using a stable copper(I)-N-heterocyclic carbene catalyst. Similarly, new conditions were developed on solid phase to synthesize regioselectively peptides containing a 3,4- or 3,5-disubstituted isoxazole moiety, through the reaction between an alkyne and a nitrile oxide. These 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions allowed us to developed a first library of peptidotriazoles and peptidoisoxazoles. We also obtained fluorescent probes based on the inhibitors showing higher affinity for the target as tools to study biofilm formation.

This work presents a crystal chemistry study of seven compounds grouped into three classes: isoxazoles, pyrazoles and pyrazolines here called IPISOX, PRISOX, 4D, OCISOX, C90, B07 e 13B, in order to identify novel acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. The structures of the listed compounds were determined by X-ray diffraction method using monocrystalline samples of the aforementioned substances. The disagreement rates seen between the model and the model defined by the diffraction pattern were: 0.0708; 0.0399; 0.0513; 0.0562; 0.0726; 0.0519; 0.0457 to IPISOX, PRISOX, OCISOX, 4D, B07, 13B e C90, respectively. A appendix refers to several methods involved in the process of recrystallization was attached to work, since it received 13 of the 16 substances to study were improperly to be subjected to the technique of Xray diffraction. To obtain factors responsible for the stability of the lens system were carried Closed Layer Interactions Analysis (ICF). The average values of delocalized electron energies determined in kcal.mol-1 were: 19.00 (IPISOX) ; 23.00 (PRISOX) ; 12.00 (OCISOX and B07) ; 9.00 (4D) ; 6,00 (13B) and 5.00 (C90) . Such relocations are from electronic transitions of the type n * (donor receiver). Other electronic relocation of C-N *O-H and C-H *O-H were also observed for some compounds. However, the first mentioned are relevant to the stability of the electron lens packaging. / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Este trabalho apresenta um estudo cristaloquímico de sete compostos agrupados em três classes: isoxazóis, pirazóis e pirazolinas aqui denominados de IPISOX, PRISOX, 4D, OCISOX, C90, B07 e 13B, no intuito de identificar novos inibidores da Acetilcolinesterase. As estruturas dos compostos mencionados foram determinadas por método de difração de Raios X usando amostras monocristalinas das substâncias mencionadas anteriormente. Os índices de discordância verificado entre o modelo proposto e o modelo definido pelo padrão de difração foram: 0,0708; 0,0399; 0,0513; 0,0562; 0,0726; 0,0519; 0,0457 para IPISOX, PRISOX, OCISOX, 4D, B07, 13B e C90, respectivamente. Um apêndice referente aos diversos métodos envolvidos no processo de recristalização foi anexado ao trabalho, uma vez que 13 das 16 substâncias recebidas para estudo estavam em forma inadequada para serem submetidas à técnica de difração de raios X. Visando obter fatores responsáveis pela estabilidade do sistema cristalino foram realizadas Análises de Interações de Camada Fechada (ICF). Os valores médios das energias de deslocalização eletrônica determinados, em kcal.mol-1, foram: 19,00 kcal.mol-1 (IPISOX); 23,00 (PRISOX); 12,00 (OCISOX E B07); 9,00 (4D); 6,00 (13B) E 5,00 (C90). Tais deslocalizações são oriundas de transições eletrônicas do tipo n * (doador receptor). Outras deslocalizações eletrônicas do tipo C-N *O-H e C-H *O-H também foram observadas para alguns compostos. No entanto, as primeiras mencionadas são relevantes para a estabilidade eletrônica do empacotamento cristalino.

Malaria is one of the deadliest diseases known to mankind. In 2010, 219 million cases were reported, and 666,000 deaths were attributed to this disease. In the past, pyrethroid-treated mosquito nets have shown efficacy in reducing malaria transmission in many malaria endemic regions. However, an upsurge in the mosquito population that is resistant to pyrethroids threatens to compromise the efficacy of pyrethroid-treated bed nets. In an effort to develop another class of insecticide with a different mode of action, we have explored three classes of five membered heterocyclic carbamates (isoxazol-3-yl, pyrazol-5-yl, and pyrazol-4-yl), and 3-oxoisoxazole- 2(3H)-carboxamide as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChE) targeting wild type (G3) and resistant (Akron) malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae (Ag). Isoxazole carboxamide and carbamates were obtained regioselectively through judicious use of two different protocols. The final products were characterized and identified using ¹H and ¹³C NMR, and mass spectroscopy. In addition, the carboxamide structure was confirmed using X-ray diffraction. Several of the novel carbamates and carboxamides evaluated exhibited excellent toxicity towards susceptible G3 and resistant Akron strain An. gambiae (48f LC₅₀ G3 = 41 μg/mL, LC₅₀ Akron = 58 μg/mL, and 47i LC₅₀ G3 = 38 μg/mL, LC₅₀ Akron = 40 μg/mL). Hence, achieving the resistance- breaking goal. On the contrary, the commercial aryl methylcarbamates currently approved for indoor residual sprays (IRS) showed no potency towards the resistant strain An. gambiae (LC₅₀ G3 = 16-42 μg/mL, and LC₅₀ Akron >5,000 μg/mL). Further, we observed low toxicological cross-resistance ratios (RR) for the toxic isoxazol-3-yl and pyrazol-4-yl carbamates, and 3- oxoisoxazole-2(3H)-carboxamides (RR = 0.5-2.0). Amongst the commercial AChE inhibitors approved for IRS, only aldicarb exhibited such low RR (RR = 0.5), whereas the RR for commercial aryl methylcarbamates exceed 130-fold. The low RR observed for these novel heterocyclic inhibitors would certainly be favorable for a new anticholinesterase-based mosquitocide targeting both the susceptible and resistant strain mosquitoes. Although the overall selectivity (Ag vs human) did not exceed 24-fold, the heterocyclic carbamates and carboxamides synthesized by the author showed appreciable inhibition of resistant AChE (G119S) in comparison to commercial aryl carbamates, which showed no inhibition at all. During the course of this project, the isoxazol-3-yl and pyrazol-5-yl methylcarbamates proved to be unstable, and thus could not be isolated. The synthesis of pyrazol-4-yl methylcarbamates using N-methylcarbamoyl chloride proved particularly challenging due to the formation of by-products called allophanates. The similar Rf of the by-product and the desired final product made the isolation laborious and time-consuming. We have successfully overcome this problem by employing a new protocol, where triphosgene served as the carbonylating agent and N-methylamine in THF was used as the amine source. In addition, we have also developed another one-pot protocol for a safer synthesis of pyrazol-4-yl methylcarbamates utilizing 1,1- carbonyldiimidazole (CDI), and N-methylamine hydrogen chloride salt. With the pyrazol-4-yl core, apart from achieving excellent toxicity towards both strains of An. gambiae, we have also achieved excellent AgAChE vs hAChE selectivity (Ag vs h >100-fold). Due to our continued interest in developing this core, we have devised a convenient, scalable, no-column approach for the synthesis an intermediate 103 that can be utilized to synthesize these compounds more efficiently. / Ph. D.

Lysine acetylation is a widespread protein post-translational modification that influences diverse cellular processes. An association between acetylation of histone N-terminal tails and transcriptional activation has been recognised since the 1960s. However, it has only become apparent since 2000 that many of the effects of histone acetylation are mediated by proteins that bind to acetyl-lysine through a specialised acetyl-lysine recognition domain, the bromodomain. Small-molecule inhibitors of bromodomain-histone interactions can greatly assist studies into the functions of bromodomain-containing proteins, and show promise as treatments for several diseases, including cancers. Herein I describe the discovery and development of a novel chemical series of bromodomain-binding ligands containing the 3,5-dimethyisoxazole moiety. This heterocycle acts as an acetyl-lysine bioisostere, mimicking key interactions formed between acetyl-lysine and the bromodomain. Optimised compounds show sub-micromolar affinities for bromodomains of the BET family, a class of transcriptional co-regulators. Crystallographic and structure-activity relationship studies shed light on the structural requirements for potent and selective BET ligands. Furthermore, the compounds show cellular effects consistent with BET bromodomain inhibition: cytotoxicity studies in a range of cell lines, including the NCI-60 human tumour cell line screen, reveal differential activity, with leukaemias showing particular sensitivity. 3,5-Dimethylisoxazole-containing compounds were also shown to downregulate known BET target genes. Further studies investigated the effect of modifying or replacing the methyl groups of 3,5-dimethylisoxazole on BET bromodomain affinity, which indicated that the 3-methyl group is necessary for affinity. Finally, three novel isoxazole-containing amino acids were synthesised and incorporated into histone peptides as potential bromodomain-binding, non-hydrolysable, acetyl-lysine mimics. These amino acids might be useful in uncovering the function of individual acetylated lysine residues. The identification of methyl-isoxazoles as acetyl-lysine-mimetic bromodomain ligands represents a significant advance in our understanding of structure-activity relationships for these important proteins. The confirmed cellular activity of these compounds will enable their use in future biological studies.