{"title":"Integrated network toxicology and bioinformatics approaches explore potential mechanisms linking organophosphate flame retardant exposure to rheumatoid arthritis.","authors":"Xiangjin Wang, Lijiao Wu, Xiaohong Fan","doi":"10.1007/s11030-026-11681-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11030-026-11681-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are emerging environmental pollutants characterized by high toxicity and persistence; however, their molecular links to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remain poorly understood. This study employed an integrated approach combining network toxicology, machine learning, and molecular docking to elucidate potential associations between OPFR exposure and RA pathogenesis. By integrating data from multiple databases, we identified 39 overlapping targets associated with both OPFRs and RA. Functional enrichment analysis suggested that these genes were primarily involved in immune regulation and inflammatory responses, potentially through the Toll-like receptor (TLR), NOD-like receptor (NLR), IL-17, and p53 signaling pathways. Using machine learning algorithms, five hub genes-SDC1, SRD5A1, SPP1, COL4A3, and MMP13-were identified as critical biomarkers. Validation using independent Gene Expression Omnibus datasets confirmed their significant differential expression in RA tissues and robust discriminatory potential. Furthermore, Immune-cell infiltration analysis revealed significant correlations between these hub genes and immune cell infiltration, suggesting their potential roles in reshaping the immune microenvironment. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations further demonstrated strong binding affinities and structural stability in interactions between OPFRs and the proteins encoded by these hub genes in silico. In conclusion, this study identified key genes potentially targeted by OPFRs that are also implicated in RA. These findings provide novel theoretical insights into the environmental risk assessment of OPFRs and identify potential targets for future experimental validation and therapeutic intervention in environmentally associated autoimmune disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":708,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Diversity","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148617913","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Polyamide-66 microplastics and early-onset ischemic stroke: a systems toxicology, multi-omics, and molecular dynamics simulation analysis.","authors":"Qiu-Han Xu, Zhao-Hui Chai, Jian-Cheng Jin, Yu-Ning Zhang, Jian Shen","doi":"10.1007/s11030-026-11672-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11030-026-11672-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Rates of early-onset ischemic stroke (EOS) are rising even as incidence falls at older ages. Microplastics have recently been identified as a novel stroke risk factor, and among polymers detected in human arterial thrombi from ischemic stroke, polyamide-66 (PA66) microplastics show the highest detection frequency, with microplastic burden positively correlating with stroke severity. Here, using an integrative in silico framework, we integrate systems toxicology with multi-omics causal inference to map PA66-brain pathways in EOS. Target prediction for PA66 combined with curated stroke genes yielded 12 shared proteins enriched in platelet-endothelial and blood-brain barrier pathways. Brain protein-QTL two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) identified 43 EOS-associated proteins (20 risk, 23 protective); intersecting with the 12 candidates prioritized a single overlap, EPHX2. Higher genetically proxied brain EPHX2 associated with lower EOS risk (odds ratio, OR 0.84; 95% CI 0.71-0.98), with the strongest signal for small-artery occlusion (OR 0.50; 0.26-0.96). Cell type-resolved sc-eQTL MR supported an astrocytic association (EPHX2 expression in astrocytes OR 0.925; 0.868-0.986; P = 0.016). Two-step MR implicated metabolites downstream of EPHX2-glycosyl-N-ceramide (d18:1/24:1) increased with brain EPHX2 (OR 1.205; P = 0.0073) and were inversely associated with EOS due to small-artery occlusion (OR 0.563; P = 0.049). Molecular docking placed PA66 in the canonical inhibitor pocket of soluble epoxide hydrolase, and 100-ns molecular dynamics supported a stable, pocket-bound pose. Mouse-model phenome queries for Ephx2 knockout highlighted Gene Ontology shifts in hydrolase activity, lipid metabolism and homeostasis, consistent with disrupted lipid-epoxide signaling relevant to neurovascular integrity. Single-cell RNA-seq in young-mouse stroke datasets localized Ephx2 to astrocytes and showed post-stroke downregulation. Together, these findings nominate an astrocytic EPHX2-sphingolipid axis as a plausible route by which PA66 microplastics may promote premature stroke, providing a mechanistic basis for hazard assessment and mitigation.</p>","PeriodicalId":708,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Diversity","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148617934","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Damião Sampaio de Sousa, João Miguel Lopes de Melo Lima, Jacilene Silva, Márcia Machado Marinho, Emmanuel Silva Marinho
{"title":"Structural insights into the structure-activity relationships of flavonoids targeting WSSV and LvGSTMu.","authors":"Damião Sampaio de Sousa, João Miguel Lopes de Melo Lima, Jacilene Silva, Márcia Machado Marinho, Emmanuel Silva Marinho","doi":"10.1007/s11030-026-11673-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11030-026-11673-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) represents one of the most severe threats to shrimp aquaculture worldwide, with no effective antiviral treatments currently available. In this study, the antiviral and antioxidant potential of the flavonoids amentoflavone, agathisflavone, and apigenin was investigated using an integrated in silico approach combining molecular docking, pharmacophore analysis, and Normal Mode Analysis (NMA)-based molecular dynamics. Docking simulations revealed that all flavonoids bind favorably to WSSV thymidylate synthase (wTS) and to the glutathione S-transferase from L. vannamei (LvGSTmu), with binding affinities superior to those of the co-crystallized ligands. Amentoflavone showed the highest affinity toward wTS, preserving key catalytic interactions and closely mimicking the binding mode of the native substrate. Pharmacophore analysis highlighted the importance of aromatic centers and hydrogen bond donor/acceptor groups in stabilizing ligand-protein complexes. NMA-based dynamics demonstrated that amentoflavone and apigenin confer increased structural stability to wTS and LvGSTmu, respectively, reducing conformational fluctuations without compromising protein integrity. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the stability of the complexes throughout the 200 ns simulation, while MM/GBSA analysis revealed favorable binding free energies, supporting stable interactions with wTS. Overall, these results suggest that flavonoids, particularly amentoflavone, represent promising scaffolds for the development of antiviral and antioxidant agents against WSSV, warranting further experimental validation.</p>","PeriodicalId":708,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Diversity","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148617880","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A synergistic deep learning and machine learning framework for screening heterocyclic compounds against ALDH1A1.","authors":"Shu-Chi Cho, Yi-Wen Wang, Chien-An Chu, Ming-Chih Huang, Monmi Pangging, Chung-Ta Lee","doi":"10.1007/s11030-026-11682-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11030-026-11682-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 (ALDH1A1) has emerged as a promising therapeutic target because of its critical roles in cancer stem cell maintenance and chemoresistance. However, the development of highly selective ALDH1A1 inhibitors remains challenging because of the extensive structural conservation shared with the closely related isoforms ALDH2 and ALDH1A2. In this study, we developed an integrated computer-aided drug design (CADD) and artificial intelligence (AI) framework to systematically identify selective ALDH1A1 inhibitors from a heterocyclic compound library. The multistage virtual screening workflow integrated deep learning-assisted molecular docking, convolutional neural network (CNN)-based scoring, and stringent isoform selectivity filtering. Subsequently, a LightGBM-based classification model was applied to prioritize candidate inhibitors, advancing LDN-27219 and TUG-1375 for dynamic validation. The dynamic stability and binding energetics of the selected protein-ligand complexes were further evaluated using molecular dynamics simulations and molecular mechanics-Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM/PBSA) calculations. Collectively, the computational analyses suggest that LDN-27219 exhibits favorable binding characteristics and represents a promising lead candidate for subsequent experimental validation. This integrated AI-CADD framework provides an efficient and reliable strategy for the rapid identification and prioritization of structurally novel, isoform-selective ALDH1A1 inhibitors for future drug discovery efforts.</p>","PeriodicalId":708,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Diversity","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148617865","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Synthesis and biological evaluation of Phorbazole D analogues identify IO-5a as a promoter of hUC-MSC chondrogenic differentiation.","authors":"Ai-Zhu Wang, Xiao-Mei Liu, Li-Ming Zhang, Lu-Lu Fu, Ping Li, Jie-Ping Zhang, Hua Han","doi":"10.1007/s11030-026-11683-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11030-026-11683-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a promising cell source for osteoarthritis and intervertebral disc degeneration, but their application is limited by inefficient and unstable chondrogenic differentiation. Here, nine Phorbazole D analogues were synthesized and evaluated for promoting chondrogenesis in human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) under TGF-β/dexamethasone based induction conditions. Among the tested analogues, IO-5a was selected for further evaluation based on its comparatively higher pro-chondrogenic activity and no detectable cytotoxicity. Image-based Alcian blue analysis showed that the positive staining area increased from approximately 17% in the control group to approximately 45% after IO-5a treatment. RT-qPCR further showed that 10 µM IO-5a upregulated COL2A1, SOX9, ACAN, and COMP by approximately 2.6-fold, 1.1-fold, 1.35-fold, and 1.4-fold, respectively. Immunofluorescence, western blotting, and 3D pellet culture analyses supported increased cartilage associated marker expression and cartilage like matrix deposition. Preliminary structure-activity relationship analysis suggested that retention of the A-ring phenolic hydroxyl group and favorable A-/C-ring substituent matching may contribute to activity. In silico target prediction and molecular docking nominated PTPN1 (PTP1B) as a potential candidate protein, although this predicted interaction requires further experimental validation. Collectively, IO-5a represents a bioactive Phorbazole D analogue with chondrogenesis promoting activity in hUC-MSCs.</p>","PeriodicalId":708,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Diversity","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148617877","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Antonio Viayna, Javier E Ortiz, Frederick Schosinsky, William J Zamora, Gabriela Egly Feresin
{"title":"Correction: Candimine as a natural scaffold for targeting squalene synthetase in Trypanosoma cruzi: insights from computational studies.","authors":"Antonio Viayna, Javier E Ortiz, Frederick Schosinsky, William J Zamora, Gabriela Egly Feresin","doi":"10.1007/s11030-026-11668-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11030-026-11668-2","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":708,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Diversity","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148597519","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Semra Altunsoy, Yakup Berkay Yılmaz, Tuğba Güngör, Hazal Nazlıcan Atalay, Mine Isaoğlu, Serdar Durdağı, Mehmet Ay, Tugba Boyunegmez Tumer
{"title":"New 3H-1,2-Dithiole-3-thione derivatives: Design and synthesis, H<sub>2</sub>S-release profile, in vitro anticancer activity, and in silico multi-target assessment.","authors":"Semra Altunsoy, Yakup Berkay Yılmaz, Tuğba Güngör, Hazal Nazlıcan Atalay, Mine Isaoğlu, Serdar Durdağı, Mehmet Ay, Tugba Boyunegmez Tumer","doi":"10.1007/s11030-026-11635-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11030-026-11635-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cancer continues to be a leading cause of global mortality, highlighting the ongoing need for novel anticancer compounds that offer high efficacy with improved side effect profiles. In the present study, a series of 3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione derivatives (DTT-S1-18) were synthesized as promising anticancer agents, and the structures of products were confirmed by spectral techniques. H<sub>2</sub>S-releasing experiments showed that most of the compounds released higher amounts of H<sub>2</sub>S slowly over time compared to standard ADT-OH. All compounds were tested for antiproliferative activity on HT-29, PC-3, MCF-7, and HUVEC cell lines. Compounds DTT-S6 (3-nitrophenyl derivative) and DTT-S8 (methionine derivative) have the lowest IC<sub>50</sub> values of 41.6 and 38.9 µM on the MCF-7 cell line, respectively. Based on the wound healing and colony formation assays performed in MCF-7 cells, the wound areas were not significantly changed after treatment with compounds DTT-S6 and DTT-S8, whereas compound DTT-S8 at double IC<sub>50</sub> dose inhibited colony formation by 81.82%. In addition, molecular docking, MD simulations, MM/GBSA binding free energy calculations, and binary QSAR analyses were performed to explore the potential target interactions and predicted activity profiles of the synthesized compounds toward inflammation-related proteins, including COX-1, COX-2, 5-LOX, and iNOS, thereby supporting the development of mechanistic hypotheses for future validation. Furthermore, structure-activity relationship (SAR) analyses were conducted to correlate the structural characteristics of the synthesized compounds with their H<sub>2</sub>S releasing potential and biological profiles. Overall, this work integrates experimental anticancer evaluation with computational pathway and structure-based cancer/inflammation analyses to characterize novel DTT-based H<sub>2</sub>S donors. The findings identify particularly compound DTT-S8, as a promising in vitro anticancer candidate, while the computational results suggest a putative involvement of inflammation-related targets, particularly the COX-2/5-LOX axis, which requires direct biochemical and cellular validation.</p>","PeriodicalId":708,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Diversity","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148590153","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A multifunctional molecular platform for restoration quinolone antibiotics: synthesis, antimicrobial, anti-biofilm and preliminary mechanistic studies.","authors":"Xingyu Chen, Jinxia Yang, Chenxiao Wang, Caimei Yao, Hongsong Wang, Yujiao He, Xiaorong Yang, Xin He, Qian Yao, Lan Lu, Peng Sun, Xiaoqiang Guo","doi":"10.1007/s11030-026-11678-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11030-026-11678-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bacterial biofilms, spatially and physiologically heterogeneous communities, protect pathogens from antibiotics and drive persistent infections, particularly those caused by the clinically challenging methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Such biofilm-mediated protection poses a major obstacle to antibiotic therapy, rendering quinolone antibiotics markedly less effective owing to their limited penetration into the biofilm matrix and the intrinsic tolerance of sessile bacteria. Therefore, strategies capable of overcoming biofilm-associated resistance and restoring the therapeutic potential of legacy quinolone antibiotics are urgently needed. Herein, a multifunctional molecular platform, AFQ-BP, was rationally developed to serve as a dual antibiofilm and antibacterial agent. Nineteen novel derivatives were designed and synthesized, 21 and 22 exhibited strong antibacterial activity, comparable to that of frontline antibiotics such as ampicillin and ciprofloxacin. Notably, the lead candidate 22 (MIC = 2 µg/mL against MRSA 21-5) suppressed biofilm formation by 69.6% and eradicated mature biofilms by 70.2%, demonstrating a 5-fold improvement over ciprofloxacin at 1×MIC and sustained activity even at the subinhibitory concentration of 1/4×MIC. It exhibited low cytotoxicity toward HEK293 cells (IC<sub>50</sub> >100 µg/mL), negligible hemolysis (1.05%), and acceptable lipophilicity (cLogP = 2.70), while being predicted as non-BBB permeant. Compound 12, repurposed from the obsolete second-generation quinolone antibiotic pipemidic acid, reduced biofilm biomass by 67.0% at 1/4×MIC. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest a multifaceted antibiofilm mechanism involving ROS amplification, EPS disintegration, and membrane damage.</p>","PeriodicalId":708,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Diversity","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148590208","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Integrated machine learning and structural bioinformatics guided identification of novel molecular scaffolds as renin inhibitors.","authors":"Shubham Krushna Talware, Girdhar Bhati, Gaurava Srivastava, Sarvbhaum Shukla, Shakil Ahmed, Mohammad Imran Siddiqi","doi":"10.1007/s11030-026-11676-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11030-026-11676-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of death globally, with hypertension as its critical hallmark. The Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone-System (RAAS) plays a central role in regulating blood pressure, highlighting its relevance for antihypertensive drug development. Despite extensive research, Aliskiren remains the only clinically approved direct renin inhibitor (DRI), underscoring the necessity for novel scaffolds with improved pharmacokinetic profiles. In this study, we employed an integrated machine learning (ML), ligand-based (LBDD), and structure-based drug design (SBDD) approach to identify and characterize new chemical scaffolds with potential renin inhibitory activity. Multiple ML models were built using various molecular descriptors, followed by extensive feature selection, and data balancing with SMOTE. To enhance model interpretability, we performed SHAP analysis on the top ML models to reveal key descriptors and substructures associated with predictions for renin inhibition. In parallel, several ligand-based pharmacophore models were constructed using the crystal structure of human renin. Maybridge library was screened using the best models resulting from both approaches, and the consensus compounds were prioritized using molecular docking to assess their inhibitory potential through the renin inhibitory assay. Molecular dynamics, along with MM/PBSA, were then employed to evaluate the structural stability and binding persistence of the screened compounds with promising activity. The predicted ADME properties and structural analysis further established the relevance of the novel scaffolds identified through our robust integrated approach. From the 12 shortlisted compounds, our study identified 4 promising hits - HTS00804, HTS05294, BTB13902, and RJC01726 with diverse piperazine and piperidine-substituted scaffolds for renin inhibition. All four hits exhibited IC50 values between 1.29 µM and 4.19 µM. Among all, HTS00804 demonstrated 53 and 73% renin inhibition in vitro at 1µM and 10 µM concentrations, respectively and can be explored as a starting scaffold for further structural optimization through medicinal chemistry efforts to design next-generation direct renin inhibitors (DRIs).</p>","PeriodicalId":708,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Diversity","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148560519","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jixiang Ni, Mohd Aamir Bin Riyaz, Zhenyu An, Yang Lu, Sajid Muhammad, Yanguo Li, Ning Xi, Yufen Zhao
{"title":"From reagents to feedstocks: reprogramming heteroatom-containing molecules in modern organic synthesis.","authors":"Jixiang Ni, Mohd Aamir Bin Riyaz, Zhenyu An, Yang Lu, Sajid Muhammad, Yanguo Li, Ning Xi, Yufen Zhao","doi":"10.1007/s11030-026-11643-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11030-026-11643-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The boundary between reagents and feedstocks in organic synthesis has traditionally been rigid, with heteroatom containing molecules serving primarily as stoichiometric reagents that generate waste. Recent advances in transition-metal catalysis, organocatalysis, and photoredox chemistry have begun to reprogram these molecules into atom-economical feedstocks whose heteroatom content is deliberately incorporated into products. This review develops a systematic feedstock design matrix that integrates structural prerequisites, electronic roles, and thermodynamic logic to identify viable candidates, exemplified by sulfur dioxide, ammonia, carbon dioxide, and DMSO. We highlight how catalytic strategies transition metal, organocatalytic, and photoredox platforms activate heteroatom feedstocks across diverse reactivity modes including decarboxylative, atom-retentive, radical, nucleophilic, and bifunctional pathways. The survey emphasizes intersections between these modes, demonstrating how dual and cooperative catalysis expand synthetic scope and efficiency. By consolidating mechanistic insights and practical advances, this review establishes feedstock reprogramming as a unifying principle in modern synthesis, with broad implications for pharmaceuticals, materials, and sustainable chemical production.</p>","PeriodicalId":708,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Diversity","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148560426","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}