Formal synthesis of (-)-warburganal and synthesis of (+)-isodrimenin.

The formal divergent synthesis of natural products (-)-warburganal and synthesis of (+)-isodrimenin has been developed from α-hydroxy β,γ-unsaturated aldehyde I, which was easily prepared from available (+)-sclareolide in 5 steps. Reduction of intermediate I to II an aldehyde reduction provides a 10-step access to (-)-warburganal, while oxidation of I to III allylic oxidation and hemiacetalization facilitates a 9-step synthesis of (+)-isodrimenin.

HDAC1 and HDAC2 regulate oligodendrocyte differentiation by disrupting the beta-catenin-TCF interaction.

Oligodendrocyte development is regulated by the interaction of repressors and activators in a complex transcriptional network. We found that two histone-modifying enzymes, HDAC1 and HDAC2, were required for oligodendrocyte formation. Genetic deletion of both Hdac1 and Hdac2 in oligodendrocyte lineage cells resulted in stabilization and nuclear translocation of beta-catenin, which negatively regulates oligodendrocyte development by repressing Olig2 expression.