Ronald Breslow

Bio: Ronald Breslow is an academic researcher from Columbia University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Cyclodextrin & Catalysis. The author has an hindex of 92, co-authored 541 publications receiving 35903 citations. Previous affiliations of Ronald Breslow include Hunter College & Center for Functional Nanomaterials.

Histone deacetylases and cancer: causes and therapies.

Abstract: Together, histone acetyltransferases and histone deacetylases (HDACs) determine the acetylation status of histones. This acetylation affects the regulation of gene expression, and inhibitors of HDACs have been found to cause growth arrest, differentiation and/or apoptosis of many tumours cells by altering the transcription of a small number of genes. HDAC inhibitors are proving to be an exciting therapeutic approach to cancer, but how do they exert this effect?

Structures of a histone deacetylase homologue bound to the TSA and SAHA inhibitors.

Abstract: Histone deacetylases (HDACs) mediate changes in nucleosome conformation and are important in the regulation of gene expression HDACs are involved in cell-cycle progression and differentiation, and their deregulation is associated with several cancers HDAC inhibitors, such as trichostatin A (TSA) and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), have anti-tumour effects, as they can inhibit cell growth, induce terminal differentiation and prevent the formation of tumours in mice models, and they are effective in the treatment of promyelocytic leukemia Here we describe the structure of the histone deacetylase catalytic core, as revealed by the crystal structure of a homologue from the hyperthermophilic bacterium Aquifex aeolicus, that shares 352% identity with human HDAC1 over 375 residues, deacetylates histones in vitro and is inhibited by TSA and SAHA The deacetylase, deacetylase-TSA and deacetylase-SAHA structures reveal an active site consisting of a tubular pocket, a zinc-binding site and two Asp-His charge-relay systems, and establish the mechanism of HDAC inhibition The residues that make up the active site and contact the inhibitors are conserved across the HDAC family These structures also suggest a mechanism for the deacetylation reaction and provide a framework for the further development of HDAC inhibitors as antitumour agents

Biomimetic Reactions Catalyzed by Cyclodextrins and Their Derivatives.

Abstract: Cyclodextrins are extremely attractive components of artificial enzymes and other biomimetic materials. They are readily available, they bind hydrophobic substrates into their cavities in water solution, and they have two rims of hydroxyl groups (Figure 1) that can either react with substrates themselves or be used to attach other catalytic and functional groups. Of course, they have disadvantages. For one, unless they are extensively modified their complexes with substrates can be rather flexible and, perhaps, with unpredictable preferred geometry. They are also unstable to strong acid. Thus for some purposes such synthetic cavity species as calixerenes1 or synthetic macrocycles2-4 may have advantages. However, one of the chief advantages of cyclodextrins is highly attractivesthey are readily available, so it is possible to avoid the synthesis of a binding group and go directly to studies of what can be achieved with their use. Afterward, the lessons learned may be applied to other systems with advantage. This review will cover all the literature on reactions in which cyclodextrins bind substrates and then either catalyze their reactions or mimic a step in an enzymatic catalytic sequence. However, it will not describe work in which cyclodextrins simply change the course of a reaction without playing an obvious catalytic role involving substrate binding. For example, there are systems in which the main function of the cyclodextrin seems to be to complex a metal ion and keep it in solution.5-11 There are other studies in which binding into a cyclodextrin simply alters the selectivity of attack by an external reagent in some way12-24 or causes solubilization to facilitate phase transfer catalysis.12,25,26 Presumably such other areas are described elsewhere in this volume. While much work on artificial enzymes using cyclodextrins has been done in the author’s laboratory, and will be described, every effort is made to describe all the relevant work in the field. Several reviews of this subject already exist and should be consulted for further information.2,27-70 The readily Ronald Breslow, born in 1931 in Rahway, NJ, completed his B.A. in chemistry in1952, his M.A. in medical science in 1953, and his Ph.D. in chemistry in 1955 with R. B. Woodward, all at Harvard University. After a postdoctoral year with Alexander Todd in Cambridge, he came to Columbia University where he is now University Professor and Professor of Chemistry. His work on enzyme models, on novel conjugated aromatic and antiaromatic molecules, on electrochemical and hydrophobic methods in mechanistic chemistry, and on anticancer cytodifferentiating agents has been recognized by a number of awards, including the U.S. National Medal of Science. In 1996, he served as President of the American Chemical Society.

疟原虫var基因转换速率变化导致抗原变异[英]／Paul H, Robert P, Christodoulou Z, et al//Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Abstract: 抗原变异可使得多种致病微生物易于逃避宿主免疫应答。表达在感染红细胞表面的恶性疟原虫红细胞表面蛋白1（PfPMP1）与感染红细胞、内皮细胞、树突状细胞以及胎盘的单个或多个受体作用，在黏附及免疫逃避中起关键的作用。每个单倍体基因组var基因家族编码约60种成员，通过启动转录不同的var基因变异体为抗原变异提供了分子基础。

Click Chemistry: Diverse Chemical Function from a Few Good Reactions.

Abstract: Examination of nature's favorite molecules reveals a striking preference for making carbon-heteroatom bonds over carbon-carbon bonds-surely no surprise given that carbon dioxide is nature's starting material and that most reactions are performed in water. Nucleic acids, proteins, and polysaccharides are condensation polymers of small subunits stitched together by carbon-heteroatom bonds. Even the 35 or so building blocks from which these crucial molecules are made each contain, at most, six contiguous C-C bonds, except for the three aromatic amino acids. Taking our cue from nature's approach, we address here the development of a set of powerful, highly reliable, and selective reactions for the rapid synthesis of useful new compounds and combinatorial libraries through heteroatom links (C-X-C), an approach we call "click chemistry". Click chemistry is at once defined, enabled, and constrained by a handful of nearly perfect "spring-loaded" reactions. The stringent criteria for a process to earn click chemistry status are described along with examples of the molecular frameworks that are easily made using this spartan, but powerful, synthetic strategy.

Chemical Redox Agents for Organometallic Chemistry

Abstract: 1. Advantages of Chemical Redox Agents 878 2. Disadvantages of Chemical Redox Agents 879 C. Potentials in Nonaqueous Solvents 879 D. Reversible vs Irreversible ET Reagents 879 E. Categorization of Reagent Strength 881 II. Oxidants 881 A. Inorganic 881 1. Metal and Metal Complex Oxidants 881 2. Main Group Oxidants 887 B. Organic 891 1. Radical Cations 891 2. Carbocations 893 3. Cyanocarbons and Related Electron-Rich Compounds 894

N-heterocyclic carbenes: a new concept in organometallic catalysis.

Abstract: N-Heterocyclic carbenes have become universal ligands in organometallic and inorganic coordination chemistry. They not only bind to any transition metal, be it in low or high oxidation states, but also to main group elements such as beryllium, sulfur, and iodine. Because of their specific coordination chemistry, N-heterocyclic carbenes both stabilize and activate metal centers in quite different key catalytic steps of organic syntheses, for example, C-H activation, C-C, C-H, C-O, and C-N bond formation. There is now ample evidence that in the new generation of organometallic catalysts the established ligand class of organophosphanes will be supplemented and, in part, replaced by N-heterocyclic carbenes. Over the past few years, this chemistry has been the field of vivid scientific competition, and yielded previously unexpected successes in key areas of homogeneous catalysis. From the work in numerous academic laboratories and in industry, a revolutionary turning point in oraganometallic catalysis is emerging.