shenvi.bsky.social

Here we transform the natural product into a series of partial, full and G protein biased KOR-selective agonists, which appear centrally active in vivo. Core diversification was aided by mutually chemoselective sp3-sp2 and sp2-sp2 cross-couplings.

Congrats to Florian, Stone and Sam for publication of Part 1 in our collaboration with Laura Bohn's lab to explore the pharmacology of GB18, a Galbulimima alkaloid that we identified as a novel opioid in 2022.
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acscentsci.5c00573

“…deaths of such children but also to deny these deaths and call them lies. The denials erase these children and dodge all responsibility.”

“If Rubio needs further reminder of the human toll, this little girl is Achol Deng, 8, who likewise died when she lost access to antiretrovirals because of the U.S.A.I.D. freeze.”
“I share these photos of Evan and Achol because it strikes me as doubly offensive not only to cause unnecessary..”

…and it turned the tide of AIDS around the world and built enormous good will toward the US.”
“Then along came President Trump and his freeze on most humanitarian aid in January. How could a 5-year-old orphan obtain medicine on his own? Evan weakened and soon died of an opportunistic infection.”

“… five years America kept him alive with antiretroviral medicines costing less than 12 cents a day, through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR. This was a program started by President George W. Bush that has saved more than 26 million lives so far…”

““That’s a lie,” Rubio said. “False.”

So let me help Rubio with the truth. Meet Evan Anzoo, a 5-year-old boy who was born with H.I.V. in South Sudan.”

“I mentioned Evan in a column in March from South Sudan. This was a child as precious as yours or mine.”

“Evan’s life was in our hands, and for…”

“… is whether to measure the dead in the thousands, tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands.”
“So Representative Brad Sherman, a California Democrat, challenged Rubio, citing reporting overseas by me and by Reuters of individuals who died as a result of the shutdown of American humanitarian aid.”

Opinion | Really, Secretary Rubio? I’m Lying About the Kids Dying Under Trump?

www.nytimes.com/2025/05/31/o...

“It was Elon Musk who first insisted that ‘no one has died.’ Now Rubio has doubled down.”

“While testifying before Congress, Rubio claimed that the Trump administration’s dismantling of USAID had not cost any lives. This is ludicrous. The only debate..”

Excited to present our newest preprint on the structure-function relationship of anaphylatoxin complement receptors. A casual number of 19 structures deciphering ligand recognition mechanisms, G protein/arrestin and species specific signaling. Please check it out! 🧪💊 www.biorxiv.org/content/bior...

Synthesis and target annotation of the alkaloid GB18 - Nature A synthetic route to GB18, an alkaloid from the bark of hallucinogenic Galbulimima sp., is developed, enabling its identification as an antagonist of κ- and μ-opioid receptors.

Here are some published studies, more en route. The pharmacology is ongoing, hence the need for continued support.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

The salvinorins and GB alkaloids are poised to become next generation medicines to treat pain and pruritis, as well as substance use disorders (SUDs) and mood disorders.

I can’t imagine a better investment of federal funds.

Or a bigger waste if the devastating cuts to NSF and NIH proceed.

Bittersweet graduation this year.

These two earned their PhDs working to understand components of traditional medicine (Salvinorin A and the GB alkaloids), each earned a Science paper and graduated in 4y.

Now they are highly skilled scientists with Merck and Janssen, trained with federal funds.

YouTube video by Steve Lawson Kara Marshall PHD-History of Science in America - Trilogy at Tehaleh 04/27/25

Gave a talk at my parents’ retirement community to describe how science is done, and what is at stake. There was a ton of interest, and anyone can do this. Get the word out about how science affects everyone. I’m happy to share slides with anyone who asks- just get in touch! youtu.be/BY_SFgi-Cig

Opinion | Musk Said No One Has Died Since Aid Was Cut. That Isn’t True. A journey through the front lines of global poverty shows that when the world’s richest men slash aid for the world’s poorest children, the result is sickness, starvation and death.

Musk Said No One Has Died Since Aid Was Cut. That Isn’t True.

www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Our latest @angewandtechemie.bsky.social paper!🎉 We introduce a 2-stage dication pool strategy for the anti-Markovnikov hydrofunctionalization of alkenes via thianthrenium intermediates, expanding the scope of nucleophiles. Huge congrats to @sbencee.bsky.social & the team!👏
doi.org/10.1002/anie...

C-terminal amides mark proteins for degradation via SCF–FBXO31 - Nature SCF–FBXO31 scans proteins for C-terminal amidation and marks them for subsequent proteasomal degradation.

It's finally out – actually out and in print! Many thanks to @jcornlab.bsky.social @matthiasmuhar.bsky.social @jakobfarnung.bsky.social and all the fantastic collaborators. What started as pure curiosity lead to an amazing find!

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

It’s been a tough few weeks. My 10yo daughter was diagnosed with a very rare, aggressive cancer called interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma (IDCS). I’m reaching out to identify clinicians/patients who have encountered pediatric IDCS or other (non-LCH) dendritic or histiocytic sarcomas cases.

Sounds like somebody is angling for a high ranking govt position.

No it won’t, but I’ll check it out anyway

Check out our recent efforts in chemrxiv to expand the chemical tractability of the proteome through NP-inspired photoaffinity probes

chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...

Total syntheses of cyclohelminthol I–IV reveal a new cysteine-selective covalent reactive group Biocompatible covalent reactive groups (CRGs) play pivotal roles in several areas of chemical biology and the life sciences, including targeted covalent inhibitor design and preparation of advanced biologic drugs, such as antibody–drug conjugates. In this study, we present the discovery that the small, chlorinated

New reactive groups for covalent inhibitors are key to expanding target scope. Natural products give inspiration for privileged structures.

In Chemical Science, the group of @tbpoulsen.bsky.social synthesized cyclohelminthol I–IV and characterized their reactivity. (1/8)

pubs.rsc.org/en/cont...

Opinion | The Devastating Legacy of Lies in Alzheimer’s Science Fraud in research needs to end.

My first science post here on BlueSky is a long one. Setting the contrarian tone from the very beginning, I take strong issue with the recent op-ed by Charles Piller published in the January 24th NY Times on #Alzheimer's disease (nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...)

Check out the summary of the newest paper from our lab. Just out in Chemical Science #chembio #chemicalbiology

Now some nice cottony rain clouds to quench the fires.

Saturdays at the lab. Paper reviews, free Farmers Open seats.

YouTube video by SullenToys.com Martin Luther King - I Have A Dream Speech - August 28, 1963

My family and I watch this recording every year. It never loses its power.

youtu.be/smEqnnklfYs?...

huh TIL

Challenge.Gov Challenge.Gov is the official GSA government website supporting prize challenges and prize competitions that are sponsored by the US federal government. Here federal agencies provide prize awards to ...

NINDS just launched a $50K prize competition for early-career scientists championing research rigor beyond their normal duties. Do you organize workshops, journal clubs, or do work to try and shift culture? This could be you.
www.challenge.gov?challenge=ni...