Irreversible Inhibition of IspG,a Target for the Development of New Antimicrobials,by a 2-Vinyl Analogue of its MEcPP Substrate

IspG (also called GcpE) is an oxygen-sensitive [4Fe-4S] enzyme catalyzing the penultimate step of the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway, a validated target for drug development. It converts 2-C-methyl-d -erythritol-2,4-cyclo-diphosphate (MEcPP) into (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-but-2-enyl-1-diphosphate (HMBPP). The reaction, assimilated to a reductive dehydration, involves redox partners responsible for the formal transfer of two electrons to substrate MEcPP. The 2-vinyl analogue of MEcPP was designed to generate conjugated species during enzyme catalysis, with the aim of providing new reactive centers to be covalently trapped by neighboring amino acid residues. The synthesized substrate analogue displayed irreversible inhibition towards IspG. Furthermore, we have shown that electron transfer occurs prior to inhibition; this might designate conjugated intermediates as probable affinity tags through covalent interaction at the catalytic site. This is the first report of an irreversible inhibitor of the IspG metalloenzyme.     

IspH protein of Escherichia coli: studies on iron-sulfur cluster implementation and catalysis

The ispH gene of Escherichia coli specifies an enzyme catalyzing the conversion of 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-(E)-butenyl diphosphate into a mixture of isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) in the nonmevalonate isoprenoid biosynthesis pathway. The implementation of a gene cassette directing the overexpression of the isc operon involved in the assembly of iron-sulfur clusters into an Escherichia coli strain engineered for ispH gene expression increased the catalytic activity of IspH protein anaerobically purified from this strain by a factor of at least 200. For maximum catalytic activity, flavodoxin and flavodoxin reductase were required in molar concentrations of 40 and 12 microM, respectively. EPR experiments as well as optical absorbance indicate the presence of a [3Fe-4S](+) cluster in IspH protein. Among 4 cysteines in total, the 36 kDa protein carries 3 absolutely conserved cysteine residues at the amino acid positions 12, 96, and 197. Replacement of any of the conserved cysteine residues reduced the catalytic activity by a factor of more than 70 000.     

The dioxanone approach to (2S,3R)-2-C-methylerythritol 4-phosphate and 2,4-cyclodiphosphate, and various MEP analogues

Efficient syntheses of the non-mevalonate pathway intermediates 2-C-methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) and 2-C-methylerythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate (ME-2,4-cycloPP), as well as the parent tetrol 2-C-methylerythritol, in enantiopure form from (2S,4R)-cis-2-phenyl-4-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy-1,3-dioxan-5-one are reported. The 2S configuration of the C-methyl group was installed by highly axial-face selective addition of CH3MgBr (20:1) to the chiral dioxanone carbonyl group. Primary selective mono-phosphorylation and 2,4-bis-phosphorylation, followed by desilation and hydrogenolysis to the free mono- and diphosphates, and, in the latter case, cyclization to form the eight-membered phosphoryl anhydride, afforded MEP and ME-2,4-cycloPP in good yields. The C2 epimeric analogues, 2-C-methylthreitol and its 4-phosphate, were accessed by LiAlH4 reduction of the cis,cis epoxide of (2S,4R)-4-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxymethyl-5-methylene-2-phenyl-1,3-dioxane, primary-selective phosphorylation, and cleavage of the silyl, benzylidene, and benzyl protecting groups. Regioselective cleavage of the acetal ring of 1,3-benzylidene 2-C-methylerythritol silyl ether by ozonolysis afforded a 1,2,3-triol 3-monobenzoate intermediate that was converted to the novel amino sugar, 1-amino-1-deoxy-2-C-methylerythritol.     

Synthesis of mono- and di-[12]aneN3 ligands and study on the catalytic cleavage of RNA model 2-hydroxypropyl-p-nitrophenyl phosphate with their metal complexes

A series of mono- and di-[12]aneN(3) ligands 1-6, which contain different substituents on the coordinating backbone, different linkers between two [12]aneN(3) units and different N-methylation on the [12]aneN(3) units, have been synthesized and fully characterized. The catalytic activities of their metal complexes on the cleavage of RNA model phosphate 2-hydroxypropyl-p-nitrophenyl phosphate (HPNPP) varied with the structures of the ligands and metal ions. Click reactions afforded an efficient method to prepare a series of [12]aneN(3) ligands, however, the incorporation of triazole moieties reduced the catalytic activities due to their coordination with metal ions and the strong inhibition from the triflate counter ion. Dinuclear zinc(II) complexes containing an m-xylyl bridge showed higher catalytic activities with synergistic effects up to 700-fold. Copper(II) complexes with the ligands without triazole moieties proved to be highly reactive and showed strong cooperativity between the two copper(II) ions. In terms of k(2), dinuclear complexes Zn(2)-3b, Zn(2)-3d, Zn(2)-4b, and Cu(2)-4b afforded activities of 7.9 × 10(5), 3.9 × 10(4), 9.0 × 10(4), and 8.1 × 10(4)-fold higher than that of methoxide. The ortho arrangement of the two [12]aneN(3) units and the presence of 5- or 2-positioned substituents in the benzene ring as well as N-methylation of [12]aneN(3) units greatly reduced the catalytic activities due to the steric effects. These results clearly indicate that the structures of the linker between two [12]aneN(3) units play very important role in their catalytic synergistic effects.     

Synthetic transformations of sesquiterpene lactones: VII. Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of isoalantolactone with 5-halouracils

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of isoalantolactone with 1,3-disubstituted or 1-substituted 5-bromo(iodo)uracils afforded mainly (13E)-13-(2,4-dioxotetrahydropyrimidin-5-yl)eudesma-4(15),11(13)-dien-8β,12-olides whose yields depended on the composition of the catalytic system, base, and additive. The structure of (13E)-13-[3-(2-cyanoethyl)-2,4-dioxotetrahydropyrimidin-5-yl]eudesma-4(15),11(13)-dien-8β,12-olide was proved by X-ray analysis.     

Biosynthesis of terpenes. Preparation of (E)-1-hydroxy-2-methyl-but-2-enyl 4-diphosphate,an intermediate of the deoxyxylulose phosphate pathway

(E)-1-hydroxy-2-methyl-but-2-enyl 4-diphosphate (E-6) was synthesized in six reaction steps from hydroxyacetone (9) and (ethoxycarbonylmethenyl)-triphenylphosphorane (11) with an overall yield of 38%. The compound was shown to be identical with the product of IspG protein, which serves as an intermediate in the nonmevalonate terpene biosynthetic pathway.     

Unsymmetric bimetal(II) complexes: Synthesis, structures and catalytic behaviors toward ethylene

A series of unsymmetric bimetal(II) (Fe, Co and Ni) complexes ligated by 2-methyl-2,4-bis(6-iminopyridin-2-yl)-1H-1,5-benzodiazepines were synthesized and characterized by IR spectra and elemental analysis, while a representative nickel(II) complex (5a) was determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. These iron(II) complexes were found to exhibit good activities for ethylene oligomerization and polymerization in the presence of MMAO and afforded α-olefins in high selectivity, and the composition of oligomers followed the Schluz-Flory distribution. The nickel(II) complexes mainly dimerize ethylene with considerable activity. The influences of coordinative ligands and reaction parameters were fully investigated on the catalytic activity and properties of these complexes.     

Preparation and reactions of 1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyls that feature an amino substituent and/or a carbonyl group

The preparation and properties of a 1-amino-1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl and a 1-benzoyl-1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl, which can be regarded as functionalized cyclic biradical derivatives, were investigated. Hydrolysis of 1-diisopropylamino-3-methyl-2,4-bis(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)-1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl (7), which is formed by reaction of Mes*C[triple chemical bond]P (4; Mes*=2,4,6-tBu(3)C(6)H(2)) with lithium diisopropylamide and iodomethane, resulted in ring-opening of the 1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl skeleton, as well as de-aromatization of one of the Mes* rings. 3-Oxo-1,3-diphosphapropene 8 and 7-phosphabicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1(8),2,4-triene 9 were the resultant products, and these were subsequently characterized. Isomerization and oxidation of 7 occurred in the presence of TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinoxy) to give the first example of a cyclic dimethylenephosphorane derivative, namely 3-oxo-1,3-diphospha-1,4-diene 10. 1-Benzoyl-3-tert-butyl-2,4-bis(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)-1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl (12) was isolated and characterized from the reaction of 4 with tert-butyllithium and benzoyl chloride. Compound 12 was subsequently heated and underwent rearrangement of the benzoyl group and ring-expansion to afford 1-oxo-1H-[1,3]diphosphole 13. Reaction of 4 with lithium diisopropylamide and benzoyl chloride afforded the 2H-[1,2,4]oxadiphosphinine 15, which was probably formed through the 1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl intermediate 14. Thermolysis of 15 afforded 1-oxo-1H-[1,3]diphosphole 16 in an Arbuzov-type rearrangement.     

Synthesis of enantiopure 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate and 2,4-cyclodiphosphate from D-arabitol

[reaction: see text] Two key intermediates of the newly discovered mevalonate-independent pathway for isoprenoid biosynthesis were prepared. Optically pure 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate and 2,4-cyclodiphosphate were chemically synthesized from D-arabitol using a convenient benzylidene and tert-butyldimethylsilyl protection of polyhydroxylated intermediates. The new scheme offers a straightforward route to analogues and labeled forms.     

Nonmevalonate terpene biosynthesis enzymes as antiinfective drug targets: substrate synthesis and high-throughput screening methods

The nonmevalonate isoprenoid pathway is an established target for antiinfective drug development. This paper describes high-throughput methods for the screening of 2C-methyl-D-erythritol synthase (IspC protein), 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol synthase (IspD protein), 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol kinase (IspE protein), and 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate synthase (IspF protein) against large compound libraries. The assays use up to three auxiliary enzymes. They are all monitored photometrically at 340 nm and are robust as documented by Z-factors of >or=0.86. 13C NMR assays designed for hit verification via direct detection of the primary reaction product are also described. Enzyme-assisted methods for the preparation, on a multigram scale, of isoprenoid biosynthesis intermediates required as substrates for these assays are reported. Notably, these methods enable the introduction of single or multiple 13C labels as required for NMR-monitored assays. The preparation of 4-diphosphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2-phosphate in multigram quantities is described for the first time.     

Synthesis of 10-thia-5-deazafolic acid and 2-desamino-2-oxo-10-thia-5-deazafolic acid

The folate analogue, 10-thia-5-deazafolic acid, was obtained via a multistep synthetic sequence beginning with the known intermediate, 2,4-diaminopyrido[2,3-d]pyrirnidine-6-carboxaldehyde. Reduction of this aldehyde with sodium borohydride gave 2,4-diamino-6-(hydroxymethyl)pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine, which when heated in base gave 2-amino-3,4-dihydro-6-(hydroxymethyl)-4-oxopyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine. Treatment of the latter compound with phosphorus tribromide in tetrahydrofuran afforded 2-amino-6-(bromomethyl)-3,4-dihydro-4-oxopyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine, thus constituting the first successful synthesis of this elusive intermediate. The aforementioned bromomethyl compound reacted smoothly with the sodium salt of ethyl 4-mercaptobenzoate, and the resulting ester was saponified to give 10-thia-5-deazapteroic acid. Conventional peptide bond coupling to di-tert-butyl L-glutamate followed by treatment with trifluoroacetic acid afforded the target compound in respectable yield. Attempts to prepare its 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro derivative by catalytic hydrogenation were unsuccessful.     

Two directions of the reaction of 3,4-dihydroxy-6-oxoalka-2,4-dienoic acid esters with anthranilic acid hydrazide

Methyl 3,4-dihydroxy-6-oxoalka-2,4-dienoates reacted with anthranilic acid hydrazide to give methyl [5-alkyl-1-(2-aminobenzamido)-2-hydroxy-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-2-yl]acetates. The reaction of anthranilic acid hydrazide with ethyl 3,4-dihydroxy-6-oxohepta-2,4-dienoate afforded ethyl (2Z)-(3a-hydroxy-2-methyl-10-oxo-3,3a,5,10-tetrahydro-4H-pyrazolo[5,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepin-4-ylidene)acetate as solvate with one methanol molecule. The structure of the isolated compounds was determined on the basis of IR and NMR spectra and X-ray diffraction data.     

Fused sulfur-containing pyridine systems. 1. Synthesis and structures of tetrahydropyridothienopyridinone and tetrahydropyridothiopyranopyridinone derivatives

The reactions of N-methylmorpholinium 4-aryl(hetaryl)-5-cyano-2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridine-6-thiolates with malononitrile and acetone in ethanol afforded substituted tetrahydropyridothienopyridinones. In the absence of acetone, tetrahydropyridothiopyranopyridinones were isolated as the major reaction products. The latter were also synthesized independently by the reactions of the above-mentioned thiolates with 2-amino-1,1,3-tricyanopropene. The structure of 2,4-diamino-10-(2-chlorophenyl)-3-cyano-5-imino-8-oxo-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-5H-pyrido[2",3":2,3]thiopyrano[4,5-b]pyridine was established by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Binding of a single zinc ion to one subunit of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase apoprotein substantially influences the structure and stability of the entire homodimeric protein

The thermodynamics of zinc binding to metal-free (apo) human and bovine copper-zinc superoxide dismutases (SOD1) were measured using isothermal titration calorimetry. The apparent thermodynamics of zinc binding to the apoproteins were favorable (Ka > 108 M-1), with an observed stoichiometry of one zinc per homodimer. The change in heat capacity for the one-zinc binding event was large and negative (approximately -650 cal mol-1 K-1), suggestive of significant structural changes to the protein upon zinc binding. We further characterized the one-zinc derivative by circular dichroism and determined that this derivative had nearly the same secondary structure as the two-zinc derivative and that both are structurally distinct from the metal-free protein. In addition, we monitored the effect of zinc binding on hydrogen-deuterium exchange and accessibility of histidyl residues to modification by diethyl pyrocarbonate and observed that more than 50% protection was afforded by the binding of one zinc in both assays. Differential scanning calorimetry on the human SOD1 zinc derivatives also showed increased thermostability of the protein due to zinc binding. Further, the melting transitions observed for the one-zinc derivative closely resembled those of the two-zinc derivative. Finally, we observed that the quaternary structure of the protein is stabilized upon binding of one and two zinc ions in analytical ultracentrifugation experiments. Combined, these results suggest communication between the two monomers of SOD1 such that the binding of one zinc ion per homodimer has a more profound effect on the homodimeric protein structure than the binding of subsequent metal ions. The relevance of these findings to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is discussed.     

Oxidative cross-coupling of acrylates with vinyl carboxylates catalyzed by a Pd(OAc)2/HPMoV/O2 system

Oxidative cross-coupling of acrylates with vinyl carboxylates was first successfully achieved by the use of a Pd(OAc)(2)/HPMoV/O(2) system in fair to good yields. For instance, the reaction of n-butyl acrylate with vinyl acetate in the presence of catalytic amounts of Pd(OAc)(2) and H(4)PMo(11)VO(40).nH(2)O under O(2) in acetic acid at 70 degrees C for 12 h afforded the corresponding cross-coupling product, n-butyl 5-(acetoxy)-2,4-pentadienoate, in 70% yield.     

Bioorganometallic Chemistry with IspG and IspH: Structure,Function, and Inhibition of the [Fe4S4] Proteins Involved in Isoprenoid Biosynthesis

Enzymes of the methylerythritol phosphate pathway of isoprenoid biosynthesis are attractive anti‐infective drug targets. The last two enzymes of this pathway, IspG and IspH, are [Fe₄S₄] proteins that are not produced by humans and catalyze 2 H⁺/ 2 e^? reductions with novel mechanisms. In this Review, we summarize recent advances in structural, mechanistic, and inhibitory studies of these two enzymes. In particular, mechanistic proposals involving bioorganometallic intermediates are presented, and compared with other mechanistic possibilities. In addition, inhibitors based on substrate analogues as well as developed by rational design and compound‐library screening, are discussed. The results presented support bioorganometallic catalytic mechanisms for IspG and IspH, and open up new routes to anti‐infective drug design targeting [Fe₄S₄] clusters in proteins.     

O-Protected 3-hydroxy-oxazolidin-2,4-diones: novel precursors in the synthesis of alpha-hydroxyhydroxamic acids

O-Protected 3-hydroxyoxazolidin-2,4-diones have been prepared in a novel one-pot reaction by subsequent treatment of cyanohydrins with 1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole and O-protected hydroxylamines followed by acidic hydrolysis of the intermediate 4-imino-oxazolidin-2-ones. Decarbonylation of O-protected 3-hydroxyoxazolidin-2,4-diones by catalytic amounts of sodium methoxide, lithium hydroxide, sodium carbonate and caesium carbonate in methanol afforded O-protected alpha-hydroxyhydroxamic acids in excellent yields. Their deprotection provided a series of novel alpha-hydroxyhydroxamic acids.     

Synthesis of New Iminosugar Derivatives Based on (S)-(1,2,3,6-Tetrahydropyridazin-3-yl)methanol

(S)-(1,2,3,6-Tetrahydropyridazin-3-yl)methanol was synthesized in two steps by the Diels-Alder reaction of penta-2,4-dien-1-ol with diethyl azodicarboxylate in the presence of (S)-BINOL as chiral catalyst. The subsequent Boc-protection of the 2-position of the pyridazine ring, ring-closing carbonylation of the hydroxy group, and deprotection afforded a bicyclic iminosugar analog. The structure of the isolated compounds was proved by NMR, IR, and mass spectra and elemental analyses.

     

Natural catalytic immunity is not restricted to autoantigenic substrates: identification of a human immunodeficiency virus gp 120-cleaving antibody light chain

The autoimmune repertoire is well known from previous studies to be capable of producing catalytic antibodies directed to self-antigens. In the present study, we explored the ability of 26 monoclonal light chains (L chains) from multiple myeloma patients to cleave radiolabeled gp120, a foreign protein. One L chain with this activity was identified. 125I-gp120 and unlabeled gp120 were cleaved at several sites by the L chain, as shown by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, autoradiography, and immunoblotting, respectively. The apparent dissociation constant of the L chain was 130-145 nM, indicating high-affinity gp120 recognition. 125I-albumin was not cleaved by the L chain, and various proteins and peptides did not inhibit gp120 cleavage by the L chain, suggesting that the activity is not a nonspecific phenomenon. The substrate recognition determinants may be conserved in different HIV-1 strains, because gp120 isolated from strains SF2, MN, and IIIB was found to be cleaved by the L chain. Micromolar concentrations of a synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 23-30 of gp120 inhibited the cleavage of 125I-gp120, suggesting that these residues are components of the epitope recognized by the L chain. The toxic effect of gp120 in neuronal cultures was reduced by about 100-fold by pretreatment of the protein with the L chain. These observations open the possibility of utilizing gp120-cleaving antibodies in the treatment of AIDS.     

Rearrangements of 4-(2-Aminophenyl)-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid diethyl ester

The treatment of 4-(2-aminophenyl)-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-3,5-pyridinecarboxylic acid diethyl ester (III) with refluxing toluene or pyridine afforded 1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-2,4-dimethyl-2,6-methano-1,3-benzodiazocine-5,11-dicarboxylic acid diethyl ester (IV) as the major product. In addition, the following minor products were isolated: 2-methyl-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid ethyl ester (V), 3-(2-aminophenyl)-5-methyl-6-azabicyclo[3,3,1]-hept-1-ene-2,4-dicarboxylic acid diethyl ester (VI), and 5,6-dihydro-2,4-dimethyl-5-oxobenzo[c][2,7]naphthyridine-1-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (VII). In contrast, acidic conditions caused the conversion of III into V in a 95% yield. The formation of the latter appears to involve IV as an intermediate, since IV degraded rapidly in acid to give V in a quantitative yield.