The total synthesis of compound 1 , a chiral diglyceride metabolite present in both humans and fungi, was achieved via a seven-step route, affording the target molecule in 2.33% overall yield. The synthetic strategy involved: (1) selective protection of the terminal hydroxyl group of chiral ketal 2 with a sterically hindered benzyl group, followed by ketal deprotection to yield benzyl ether 4 ; (2) protection of the terminal hydroxyl group of benzyl ether 4 with a bulky silyl protecting group, and subsequent esterification of the remaining hydroxyl with erucic acid to generate ester 6 ; (3) removal of the silyl protecting group from ester 6 , followed by esterification of the liberated hydroxyl group with pentadecanoic acid to afford ester 8 ; and (4) selective deprotection of the benzyl group of ester 8 to furnish compound 1 . Network pharmacology and molecular docking studies identified 196 potential targets of compound 1 , with AKT1, ALB, CASP3, EGFR, HSP90AA1, IGF1, and SRC highlighted as potential hub targets. In silico analysis suggested potential therapeutic applications in diabetes, neuro-systemic diseases, thyroid hormone disorders, lipid disorders, tumors, and gynaecological diseases. Furthermore, in silico screening using three databases identified 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) as a potential biological target. However, in vitro HMGCR inhibition assays failed to demonstrate a significant reduction in cholesterol levels in human blood upon treatment with compound 1 . These findings contribute to the understanding of the chemical synthesis and biological activity of chiral diglycerides and provide a basis for future research in this area.
Liming Gui,Kaiwen Chen,Jingjing Yan,Ping Chen,Wei-Qiang Gao,Bin Ma
The induction of immunogenic cell death (ICD) impedes tumor progression via both tumor cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic mechanisms, representing a robust therapeutic strategy. However, ICD-targeted therapy remains to be explored and optimized. Through kinome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screen, NUAK family SNF1-like kinase 1 (NUAK1) is identified as a potential target. The ICD-provoking effect of NUAK1 inhibition depends on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), consequent to the downregulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2)-mediated antioxidant gene expression. Moreover, the mevalonate pathway/cholesterol biosynthesis, activated by spliced form of X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1s) downstream of ICD-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, functions as a negative feedback mechanism. Targeting the mevalonate pathway with CRISPR knockout or the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) inhibitor simvastatin amplifies NUAK1 inhibition-mediated ICD and antitumor activity, while cholesterol dampens ROS and ICD, and therefore also dampens tumor suppression. The combination of NUAK1 inhibitor and statin enhances the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy. Collectively, our study unveils the promise of blocking the mevalonate-cholesterol pathway in conjunction with ICD-targeted immunotherapy.