ABSTRACT While studying the environmental fate of potent endocrine-active steroid hormones, we observed the formation of an intramolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition product (2) with a novel hexacyclic ring system following photolysis of altrenogest (1). The structure and absolute configuration were established by X-ray diffraction analysis. Theoretical computations identified a barrierless two-step cyclization mechanism for the formationRead More

ABSTRACT The present AOP describes antagonistic chemical binding to the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), resulting in preferential binding a co-repressor to the overall PPARα signalling complex causing a chain of events that includes: antagonism of PPARα nuclear signalling, decreased transcriptional expression of PPARα-regulated genes that support energy metabolism, inhibited metabolic energy production (decreased fattyRead More

ABSTRACT Natural product and natural product-like molecules continue to be important for the development of pharmaceutical agents, as molecules in this class play a vital role in the pipeline for new therapeutics. Among these, tetracyclic terpenoids are privileged, with >100 being FDA-approved drugs. Despite this significant pharmaceutical success, there remain considerable limitations to broad medicinalRead More

ABSTRACT Gastrointestinal (GI) homeostasis is strongly dependent on nuclear receptor (NR) functions. They play a variety of roles ranging from nutrient uptake, sensing of microbial metabolites, regulation of epithelial intestinal cell integrity to shaping of the intestinal immune cell repertoire. Several NRs are associated with GI pathologies; therefore, systematic analysis of NR biology, the underlyingRead More

ABSTRACT Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), characterized by hepatocyte injury, inflammation, and fibrosis, is the maincause of chronic liver disease in the Western world. There are currently no approved pharmacological therapies for NASH,underscoring the urgent need for effective treatments. The farnesoid X receptor (FXR) has emerged as an attractive target for the treatment of metabolic and chronicRead More

ABSTRACT There are no FDA-approved drugs that can be administered prior to ionizing radiation exposure to prevent hematopoietic–acute radiation syndrome (H-ARS). A suspension of synthetic genistein nanoparticles was previously shown to be an effective radioprotectant against H-ARS when administered prior to exposure to a lethal dose of total body radiation. Here we aimed to determineRead More

ABSTRACT An estimated 200 million individuals worldwide have a thyroid disorder. Thyroid diseases affect seven times more women than men. People not diagnosed make up the majority of thyroid patients. There is a need to find novel and safe ways to change the underlying disease processes, rather than merely stop excess thyroid hormone production asRead More

ABSTRACT In an ongoing effort to study the environmental fate of endocrine-active steroid hormones, we report the formation of phenolic rearrangement products (3 and 4) with a novel 6,5,8,5-ring system following aqueous photolysis of dienogest (1) and methyldienolone(2). The structures were established by analysis of 2D NMR and HRMS data, and that of 3 wasRead More

ABSTRACT Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals is an established risk factor for obesity. The most commonly used pesticide active ingredients have never been tested in an adipogenesis assay. We tested for the first time the potential of glyphosate, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, dicamba, mesotrione, isoxaflutole and quizalofop-p-ethyl (QpE) to induce lipid accumulation in murine 3T3-L1 adipocytes. OnlyRead More

ABSTRACT The development and evaluation of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) is of interest because of the complex and significant role of estrogen receptors in normal tissues as well as disease states. In neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis, estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) seems to provide a protective anti-inflammatory response. Due toRead More