Staurosporine (Str) (GC15299) is an alkaloid, which has a complex molecular structure comprising of nine fused rings. Its structure is diagrammatically depicted in Figure 1. It is primarily classified as a derivative of Indolocarbazole (Toledo and Lydon).

Thapsigargin

Thapsigargin (shortened as Tg) is a small yet structurally complex molecule, that inhibits the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) at the concentration of nano Molar. Tg at this concentration is particularly safe for the other transmembrane pumps It is the extensively studied SERCA inhibitor. The structure of carbon backbone in the Tg is very complex as there lies a fusion of three rings in the heart of its molecular structure.

3-TYP that is also known as 3-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl) pyridine, is a small molecule. Its molecular structure is presented in Figure 1. It effectively and selectively modulates i.e., inhibits the Sirt3 protein, a mitochondrial enzyme having roles in the regulation of a vast spectrum of the metabolic processes (a collective term for catabolism and anabolism) thus contributes to the body’s overall homeostasis.

It is a small novel synthetic molecule/ compound, highly selective in its action, and can be used to inhibit the NAE. NAE is defined as the NEDD8 activating enzyme. Different studies showed that this small NEDD8 molecule plays an important role in the regulation of the activity of CRLs. These CLRs (cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligases) are essential components of cancer biology as they control the turnover of different kinds of proteins.

KRN 7000, is also known as α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer). It is a synthetic glycoprotein i.e., having chemically bonded carbohydrate and lipid part (specifically sphingolipid).Its structural formula is diagrammatically shown in Figure 1, while the different components of KRN 7000 are highlighted in the Figure 2. Keep in mind that both the structures in Figure 1 and Figure 2 are of KRN 7000.

It is defined as a novel synthetic compound that can be administered orally for the allosteric inhibition of Akt. This novel molecule requires the pleckstrin homology domain for its action and that’s why it acts as a selective inhibitor of Akt. Studies reported that it is equally potent to inhibit the AKt1 and Akt2 enzymes but is almost 5 times less potent to inhibit the Akt3 enzyme.

T-5224 is a small molecule that is non-peptidic in nature. It acts as an inhibitor of activator protein/c-Fos (transcription factors) by inhibiting the binding of activator protein AP-1 to the AP binding site, thus showing anti-inflammatory effects. It regulates the gene expressions for the pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major neurodegenerative disease that seriously threatens human health. It is estimated that there will be more than 70 million AD patients worldwide in 2030, bringing a heavy burden to patients, families and society.

Metformin (Metformin) has the effect of lowering blood sugar by inhibiting the production of glucose in the liver. It is the first-line drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the world. Hundreds of millions of people around the world are taking metformin.

RSL3 is also called RAS-selective lethal 3. It is a small molecule that can inhibit the action of GPX4, which leads to the ferroptosis of the cells. Ferroptosis is defined as the non-apoptotic type of cell death which is iron-dependent. In the presence of iron, or due to the accumulation of iron within the cells, various kinds of enzymes are active, which leads to ferroptosis. This increase in the accumulation of iron results in an increase in the level of lipid peroxidase enzymes within the cells.