A new coronavirus (CoV) identified as COVID-19 virus is the etiological agent responsible for the 2019-2020 viral pneumonia outbreak that commenced in Wuhan [1][2][3][4] . Currently there are no targeted therapeutics and effective treatment options remain very limited. In order to rapidly discover lead compounds for clinical use, we initiated a program of combined structure-assisted drug design, virtual drug screening and high-throughput screening to identify new drug leads that target the COVID-19 virus main protease (M pro ). M pro is a key CoV enzyme, which plays a pivotal role in mediating viral replication and transcription, making it an attractive drug target for this virus 5,6 . Here, we identified a mechanism-based inhibitor, N3, by computer-aided drug design and subsequently determined the crystal structure of COVID-19 virus M pro in complex with this compound. Next, through a combination of structure-based virtual and high-throughput screening, we assayed over 10,000 compounds including approved drugs, drug candidates in clinical trials, and other pharmacologically active compounds as inhibitors of M pro . Six of these compounds inhibited M pro with IC 50 values ranging from 0.67 to 21.4 μM. Ebselen also exhibited promising antiviral activity in cell-based assays. Our results demonstrate the efficacy of this screening strategy, which can lead to the rapid discovery of drug leads with clinical potential in response to new infectious diseases for which no specific drugs or vaccines are available.CoVs infect humans and other animal species, causing a variety of highly prevalent and severe diseases, including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) 7 . The COVID-19 virus genome is comprised of ~30,000 nucleotides; its replicase gene encodes two overlapping polyproteins, pp1a and pp1ab, required for viral replication and transcription 3,4 . The functional polypeptides are released from the polyproteins by extensive proteolytic processing, predominantly by a 33.8-kDa main protease (M pro ), also referred to as the 3C-like protease. M pro digests the polyprotein at no less than 11 conserved sites, starting with the autolytic cleavage of this enzyme itself from pp1a and pp1ab 8 . The functional importance of M pro in the viral life cycle, together with the absence of closely related homologues in humans, identify the M pro as an attractive target for antiviral drug design 9 .To facilitate the rapid discovery of antiviral compounds with clinical potential, we developed a strategy combining structure-assisted drug design, virtual drug screening and high-throughput screening to repurpose existing drugs to target COVID-19 virus M pro . Establishing a high-throughput activity assayRecombinant COVID-19 virus M pro with native N and C termini was expressed in Escherichia coli and subsequently purified (Extended Data Fig. 1a, b). The molecular weight of COVID-19 virus M pro as determined by mass spectroscopy is 33797.0 Da, consistent with its theoretical molecular weight 337...

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a common, morbid, and frequently lethal malignancy. To uncover its mutational spectrum, we analyzed whole-exome sequencing data from 74 tumor-normal pairs. The majority exhibited a mutational profile consistent with tobacco exposure; human papilloma virus was detectable by sequencing of DNA from infected tumors. In addition to identifying previously known HNSCC genes (TP53, CDKN2A, PTEN, PIK3CA, and HRAS), the analysis revealed many genes not previously implicated in this malignancy. At least 30% of cases harbored mutations in genes that regulate squamous differentiation (e.g., NOTCH1, IRF6, and TP63), implicating its dysregulation as a major driver of HNSCC carcinogenesis. More generally, the results indicate the ability of large-scale sequencing to reveal fundamental tumorigenic mechanisms.

We have analyzed the maize leaf transcriptome using Illumina sequencing. We mapped more than 120 million reads to define gene structure and alternative splicing events and to quantify transcript abundance along a leaf developmental gradient and in mature bundle sheath and mesophyll cells. We detected differential mRNA processing events for most maize genes. We found that 64% and 21% of genes were differentially expressed along the developmental gradient and between bundle sheath and mesophyll cells, respectively. We implemented Gbrowse, an electronic fluorescent pictograph browser, and created a two-cell biochemical pathway viewer to visualize datasets. Cluster analysis of the data revealed a dynamic transcriptome, with transcripts for primary cell wall and basic cellular metabolism at the leaf base transitioning to transcripts for secondary cell wall biosynthesis and C(4) photosynthetic development toward the tip. This dataset will serve as the foundation for a systems biology approach to the understanding of photosynthetic development.

Mechanistic aspects of palladium-catalyzed insertion copolymerizations of ethylene and R-olefins with methyl acrylate to give high molar mass polymers are described.dNAr, e.g., Ar t 2,6-C 6 H 3 (i-Pr) 2 , R t H (a), Me (b); Ar′ t 3,5-C 6 H 3 (CF 3 ) 2 ) with bulky substituted R-diimine ligands were used as catalyst precursors. The copolymers are highly branched, the acrylate comonomer being incorporated predominantly at the ends of branches as -CH 2 CH 2 C(O)OMe groups. The effects of reaction conditions and catalyst structure on the copolymerization reaction are rationalized. Lowtemperature NMR studies show that migratory insertion in the η 2 -methyl acrylate (MA) complex [(N ∧ N)-PdMe{H 2 CdCHC(O)OMe}] + (5) occurs to give initially the 2,1-insertion product [(N ∧ N)PdCH(CH 2 CH 3 )C-(O)OMe] + (6), which rearranges stepwise to yield 2 as the final product upon warming to -20°C. Activation parameters (∆H q ) 12.1 ( 1.4 kcal/mol and ∆S q ) -14.1 ( 7.0 eu) were determined for the conversion of 5a to 6a. Rates of ethylene homopolymerization observed in preparative-scale polymerizations (1.2 s -1 at 25°C, ∆G q ) 17.4 kcal/mol for 2b) correspond well with low-temperature NMR kinetic data for migratory insertion of ethylene in [(N ∧ N)Pd{(CH 2 ) 2n Me}(H 2 CdCH 2 )] + . Relative binding affinities of olefins to the metal center were also studied. For [(N ∧ N)PdMe(H 2 CdCH 2 )] + + MA h 5a + H 2 CdCH 2 , K eq (-95°C) ) (1.0 ( 0.3) × 10 -6 was determined. Combination of the above studies provides a mechanistic model that agrees well with acrylate incorporations observed in copolymerization experiments. Data obtained for equilibriashows that chelating coordination of the carbonyl group is favored over olefin coordination at room temperature. Formation of chelates analogous to 2 during the copolymerization is assumed to render the subsequent monomer insertion a turnover-limiting step.

In patients with persistent, moderate-to-severe asthma and elevated eosinophil levels who used inhaled glucocorticoids and LABAs, dupilumab therapy, as compared with placebo, was associated with fewer asthma exacerbations when LABAs and inhaled glucocorticoids were withdrawn, with improved lung function and reduced levels of Th2-associated inflammatory markers. (Funded by Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01312961.).

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Blood vessel growth in the skeletal system and osteogenesis appear coupled suggesting the existence of molecular crosstalk between endothelial and osteoblastic cells1,2. Understanding the nature of the mechanisms linking angiogenesis and bone formation should be of great relevance for improved fracture healing or prevention of bone mass loss. Here, we show that vascular growth in bone involves a specialised, tissue-specific form of angiogenesis. Notch signalling promotes endothelial cell proliferation and vessel growth in postnatal long bone, which is the opposite of the well-established function of Notch and its ligand Dll4 in the endothelium of other organs and tumours3,4. Endothelial cell-specific and inducible genetic disruption of Notch signalling in mice not only impaired bone vessel morphology and growth, but also led to reduced osteogenesis, shortening of long bones, chondrocyte defects, loss of trabeculae, and decreased bone mass. Based on a series of genetic experiments, we conclude that skeletal defects in these mutants involved defective angiocrine release of Noggin from endothelial cells, which is positively regulated by Notch. Administration of recombinant Noggin, a secreted antagonist of bone morphogenetic proteins, restored bone growth and mineralisation, chondrocyte maturation, the formation of trabeculae, and osteoprogenitor numbers in endothelial cell-specific Notch pathway mutants. These findings establish a molecular framework coupling angiogenesis, angiocrine signals and osteogenesis, which may prove significant for the development of future therapeutic applications. KeywordsBone formation; endothelial cells; Notch; Dll4; Noggin Dye injection and corrosion cast experiments had indicated that metaphyseal vessels in growing long bone are arranged in parallel, columnar strands with distal anastomotic interconnections5,6. Improved bone processing and immunostaining (see Methods) now

Teriflunomide significantly reduced relapse rates, disability progression (at the higher dose), and MRI evidence of disease activity, as compared with placebo. (Funded by Sanofi-Aventis; TEMSO ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00134563.).