Synthesis and applications of 2,4-disubstituted thiazole derivatives as small molecule modulators of cellular development
作者:Garr-Layy Zhou、Daniel M. Tams、Todd B. Marder、Roy Valentine、Andrew Whiting、Stefan A. Przyborski
DOI:10.1039/c3ob00005b
日期:——
Understanding how the structure of molecules relates to their function and biological activity is essential in the development of new analogues with targeted activity. This is especially relevant in mediating developmental processes in mammalian cells and the regulation of stem cell differentiation. In this study, thiazole-containing small molecules were synthesised and investigated for their ability to induce the differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells and their derivatives. Analyses of cell morphology, cell viability, expression of cell surface markers and ability to induce cell differentiation and regulate neurite formation identified the analogue with the longest and most bulky hydrophobic side chain as possessing comparable or enhanced activity to all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). Interestingly, a shorter, less bulky, known thiazole compound reported to be isoform selective for the retinoic acid receptor β2 (RARβ2) agonist did not mediate differentiation under the conditions tested; however, activity could be restored by adjusting the structure to a longer, more bulky molecule. These data provide further insight into the complexity of compound design in terms of developing small molecules with specific biological activities to control the development and differentiation of mammalian cells.
理解分子结构与其功能和生物活性的关系,对于开发具有特定活性的新类似物至关重要。这在调节哺乳动物细胞的发育过程和干细胞分化中尤为相关。在本研究中,合成了含有噻唑的小分子并研究了它们诱导人多能干细胞及其衍生物分化的能力。通过细胞形态、细胞活力、细胞表面标记物表达以及诱导细胞分化和调节轴突形成能力的分析,发现具有最长和最庞大疏水侧链的类似物活性与全反式维甲酸(ATRA)相当或更强。有趣的是,一种已知的选择性针对维甲酸受体β2(RARβ2)激动剂的较短且较不庞大的噻唑化合物在所测试条件下未诱导分化;然而,通过调整结构为更长、更庞大的分子可以恢复其活性。这些数据为进一步理解在开发具有特定生物活性的小分子以控制哺乳动物细胞发育和分化方面的化合物设计的复杂性提供了深入见解。