Facile solid-phase synthesis of sulfated tyrosine-containing peptides: Part II. Total synthesis of human big gastrin-II and its C-terminal glycine-extended peptide (G34-Gly sulfate) by the solid-phase segment condensation approach

Application of the fluoren-9-ylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-based solid-phase segment condensation approach to the preparation of sulfated peptides was investigated through the synthesis of human big gastrin-II, a 34-residue sulfated tyrosine [Tyr(SO3H)]-containing peptide. Highly acid-sensitive 2-chlorotrityl resin (Clt resin) was exclusively employed as an anchor-resin for the preparation of the three peptide segments having the C-terminal Pro residue as well as of the Tyr(SO3H)-containing resin-bound segment. By using the PyBOP-mediated coupling protocol [PyBOP=benzotriazolyloxytris(pyrrolidino)phosphonium hexafluorophosphatel, we successively condensed each segment and constructed the 34-residue peptide-resin without any difficulty. The final acid treatment of the fully protected peptide-resin at low temperature (90% aqueous TFA, 0 degree C for 8 h), which can detach a Tyr(SO3H)-containing peptide from the resin and remove the protecting groups concurrently with minimum deterioration of the sulfate, afforded a crude sulfated peptide. After one-step HPLC purification, a highly homogeneous human big gastrin-II was easily obtained in 14% yield from the protected peptide-resin. The sulfate form of the C-terminal glycine-extended gastrin (G34-Gly sulfate), a posttranslational processing intermediate of gastrin-II, was also successfully prepared with the segment condensation approach (11% yield). These results demonstrated the usefulness of the segment condensation protocol for preparing large Tyr(SO3H)-containing peptides.     

Two dialkoxynaphthalene aldehydes as backbone amide linkers for solid-phase synthesis

Two new solid-phase handles for backbone amide anchoring based on regioisomeric dialkoxynaphthalene aldehydes (NALdehydes) were synthesized in five convenient steps from the corresponding commercially available dihydroxynaphthalenes. The two NALdehydes were coupled to an aminomethyl polystyrene support, the first monomer attached by efficient reductive amination, and the secondary amine acylated to form naphthalene amide linker (NAL-1 and NAL-2) anchoring. After on-resin synthesis, release of peptides was effected with TFA/H(2)O (95:5), TFA/DCM (50:50), or low TFA concentrations. The properties of the NAL handles were evaluated in the solid-phase synthesis of a series of peptides, in which NAL-2 showed the best cleavage properties.     

Solid-phase synthesis of difficult peptide sequences at elevated temperatures: a critical comparison of microwave and conventional heating technologies

The Fmoc/t-Bu solid-phase synthesis of three difficult peptide sequences (a 9-mer, 15-mer, and 24-mer) was performed using N,N'-diisopropylcarbodiimide/1-hydroxybenzotriazole as coupling reagent on polystyrene, Tentagel, and ChemMatrix resins. In order to obtain an insight into the specific role of the elevated temperature and/or the electromagnetic field for peptide syntheses carried out using microwave irradiation, peptide couplings and Fmoc-deprotection steps were studied under microwave and conventionally heated conditions at the same temperature. While room temperature couplings/deprotections generally produced the difficult peptides in rather poor quality, excellent peptide purities were obtained using microwave heating at a temperature of 86 degrees C for both the coupling and deprotection steps in only 10 and 2.5 min reaction time, respectively. While for most amino acids no significant racemization was observed, the high coupling temperatures led to considerable levels of racemization for the sensitive amino acids His and Cys. It was demonstrated for all three peptide sequences that when performing the coupling/deprotection steps at the same reaction temperature using conventional heating, nearly identical results in terms of both peptide purity and racemization levels were obtained. It therefore appears that the main effect of microwave irradiation applied to solid-phase peptide synthesis is a purely thermal effect not related to the electromagnetic field.     

Total chemical synthesis of large CCK isoforms using a thioester segment condensation approach

Silver-ion mediated thioester segment condensation was applied to the chemical synthesis of high molecular weight isoforms of cholecystokinin (CCK). Three building blocks, a C-terminal Tyr(SO₃H)-containing segment and two partially protected thioester segments having a C-terminal Pro residue, were prepared using Fmoc-based chemistry and 2-chlorotrityl chloride (Clt) resin as a solid support. The entire peptide chain was successfully synthesized by two consecutive silver-ion mediated condensation reactions using these building blocks. A brief TFA treatment of the final condensation product gave highly homogeneous CCK-58 in a satisfactory yield. This peptide exhibited glucose-dependent insulinotropic activity at levels comparable to CCK-33. These results demonstrate the usefulness of the silver-ion mediated segment condensation approach in the preparation of large sulfated peptides.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of ent-cyclooroidin

An enantiospecific total synthesis of the pyrrole-imidazole natural product cyclooroidin from histidine is described. The key N1-C9 bond is constructed through an intramolecular SN2-type of reaction of a chloro ester. Subsequent imidazole azidation at the 2-position, pyrrole bromination, azide reduction, and deprotection leads to the completion of the synthesis.     

New stable backbone linker resins for solid-phase peptide synthesis

[reaction: see text] Two new 4-methoxybenzaldehyde backbone linker resins were developed for the solid-phase synthesis of peptides. The linkers are very stable during the cleavage of common protecting groups for amines (Fmoc, Boc) and carboxylic acids (Me, All, tBu) in peptide synthesis. Cleavage from the resin with refluxing TFA is sufficiently mild for peptides containing polar and nonpolar amino acids.     

Fmoc-based solid-phase synthesis of adenylylated peptides using diester-type adenylylated amino acid derivatives

Phosphodiester-type adenylylated (AMPylated) Ser, Thr, and Tyr derivatives were developed for Fmoc solid phase peptide synthesis of AMPylated peptides. One-pot/sequential reaction consisting of condensation of an N-nonprotected adenosine derivative and Fmoc-Ser/Thr/Tyr-OAllyl using allyl-N,N-diisopropylchlorophosphoramidite and subsequent oxidation with m-chloroperbenzoic acid gave phosphotriester-type AMPylated Ser/Thr/Tyr derivatives. After Pd(0)-mediated deprotection of allyl groups, the resulting phosphodiester-type AMPylated Ser/Thr/Tyr derivatives were successfully incorporated into peptides by standard Fmoc solid phase peptide synthesis without significant side reactions including dehydroalanine formation.     

Peptide profile of human acquired enamel pellicle using MALDI tandem MS

The present study proposes a strategy for human in vivo acquired enamel pellicle (AEP) peptidome characterisation based on sequential extraction with guanidine and TFA followed by MALDI-TOF/TOF identification. Three different nanoscale analytical approaches were used: samples were subjected to tryptic digestion followed by nano-HPLC and mass spectrometry (MS and MS/MS) analysis. Undigested samples were analysed by LC-MS (both linear and reflector modes) and LC-MS/MS analysis, and samples were subjected to nano-HPLC followed by on-plate digestion and mass spectrometry (MS and MS/MS) analysis. The majority of the identifications corresponded to peptide/protein fragments of salivary protein, belonging to the classes: acidic PRPs, basic PRPs, statherin, cystatins S and SN and histatin 1 (all also identified in intact form). Overall, more than 90 peptides/proteins were identified. Results clearly show that peptides with acidic groups are enriched in the TFA fraction while peptides with no acidic or phosphate groups are prevalent on the guanidine extract. Also, phosphorylated peptides were observed mainly on the TFA fraction. Fragments present in the AEP show a predominance of cleavage points located at Arg, Tyr and Lys residues. Obtained data suggest that proteolytic activity could influence AEP formation and composition.     

Combinatorial synthesis of MUC1 glycopeptides: polymer blotting facilitates chemical and enzymatic synthesis of highly complicated mucin glycopeptides

The chemoselective polymer blotting method allows for rapid and efficient synthesis of glycopeptides based on a "catch and release" strategy between solid-phase and water-soluble polymer supports. We have developed a heterobifunctional linker sensitive to glutamic acid specific protease (BLase). The general procedure consists of five steps, namely (i) the solid-phase synthesis of glycopeptide containing BLase sensitive linker, (ii) subsequent deprotections and the release of the glycopeptide from the resin, (iii) chemoselective blotting of the glycopeptide intermediates in the presence of water-soluble polymers with oxylamino functional groups, (iv) sugar elongations using glycosyltransferases, and (v) the release of target glycopeptides from the polymer platform by selective BLase promoted hydrolysis. The combined use of the solid-phase chemical syntheses of peptides and the enzymatic syntheses of carbohydrates on water-soluble polymers would greatly contribute to the production of complicated glycopeptide libraries, thereby enhancing applicative research. We report here a high-throughput synthetic system for the various types of MUC1 glycopeptides exhibiting a variety of sugar moieties. It is our belief that this concept will become part of the entrenched repertoire for the synthesis of biologically important glycopeptides on the basis of glycosyltransferase reactions in automated and combinatorial syntheses.     

Solid-phase synthesis of 3-alkyl-2-arylamino-3,4-dihydroquinazolines

The solid-phase synthesis of 3-alkyl-2-arylamino-3,4-dihydroquinazolines using an N-Fmoc-β-amino-2-nitrobenzenepropanoic acid scaffold is described. The resin-bound scaffold was reductively alkylated with aldehydes or ketones after Fmoc deprotection, followed by reduction of the nitro group with tin(II) chloride. Subsequent cyclization of the 1,3-diamine intermediates with aryl isothiocyanates in the presence of 1,3-diisopropylcarbodiimide (DIC) afforded the desired products in high purity with moderate to good yield after trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) cleavage.     

Synthesis and evaluation of 2-(2-fluoro-4-hydroxymethyl-5-methoxy-phenoxy)acetic acid as a linker in solid-phase synthesis monitored by gel-phase (19)F NMR spectroscopy

Gel-phase (19)F NMR spectroscopy is a useful monitoring technique for solid-phase organic chemistry due to the high information content it delivers and swift acquisition times, using standard NMR spectrometers. This paper describes the synthesis of the novel linker 2-(2-fluoro-4-hydroxymethyl-5-methoxy-phenoxy)acetic acid in 29% yield over seven steps, using nucleophilic aromatic substitutions on 2,4,5-trifluorobenzonitrile as key steps. Following standard solid-phase synthesis a peptide could be cleaved from the linker using 20% TFA in CH(2)Cl(2) in 30 minutes, in contrast to a previously described monoalkoxy linker that requires 90% TFA in water at elevated temperature. A resin-bound peptide could be successfully glycosylated using only two equivalents of a thioglycoside donor, activated with N-iodosuccinimide and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, and subsequent cleavage and deprotection gave the target glycopeptide. Direct glycosylation of the linker itself followed by mild acidic cleavage gave a fully protected hemiacetal for further chemical manipulation.     

Solid phase organic synthesis of piperazinone containing enkephalin mimetics: a readily derivatized, traceless scaffold

The solid phase synthesis of a series of piperazinone-derived Leu-enkephalin analogues is presented. The initial step in the synthesis involved the N-alkylation of Wang resin bound N-(4-tert-butyloxy-phenethyl)-glycine with D or L Boc-serine-beta-lactone (the Vederas lactone). The resulting carboxylic acid was then coupled to a variety of monosubstituted benzylamine derivatives using benzotriazol-1-yloxy-tris(dimethyl-amino)phosphonium hexafluorophosphate (the BOP reagent) to yield a series of resin bound tertiary amides. Treatment with 5% H2O in TFA resulted in the facile cleavage, deprotection, and cyclization of this linear precursor to yield a series of piperazinones (compounds 1-8).     

Aza-amino acid scanning of secondary structure suited for solid-phase peptide synthesis with fmoc chemistry and aza-amino acids with heteroatomic side chains

Aza-peptides, peptide analogues in which the alpha-carbon of one or more of the amino acid residues is replaced with a nitrogen atom, exhibit a propensity for adopting beta-turn conformations. A general Fmoc-protection protocol for the stepwise solid-phase synthesis of aza-peptides has now been developed based on the activation of N'-alkyl fluoren-9-ylmethyl carbazates with phosgene for coupling the aza-amino acid residues. This method has proven effective for introducing aza-amino acid residues with aliphatic (Ala, Leu, Val, and Gly) and aromatic (Phe, Tyr, and Trp) side chains. Acid promoted loss of aromatic side chains was noted with aza-Trp and aza-Tyr residues during peptide cleavage and suppressed by temperature control in the case of the latter. In addition, aza-peptides with heteroatomic side chain residues (Lys, Orn, Arg, and Asp) were conveniently synthesized using this protocol. Partial aza-amino acid scans were performed on three biologically active peptides: the potent tetrapeptide melanocortin receptor agonist, Ac-His-d-Phe-Arg-Trp-NH2; the growth hormone secretagogue hexapeptide, GHRP-6, His-d-Trp-Ala-Trp-d-Phe-Lys-NH2; and the human calcitonin gene-related peptide (hCGRP) antagonist, FVPTDVGPFAF-NH2. This practical procedure for aza-amino acid scanning using Fmoc-based solid-phase synthesis should find general utility for probing the existence and importance of beta-turn conformations in bioactive peptides.     

Efficient total synthesis of pulchellalactam,a CD45 protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor

A new approach to a CD45 protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, pulchellalactam, is described. The key step of the sequence involves addition and elimination of an enolic lactam in a single step and 70% yield, employing an organocuprate reagent. The resulting alpha,beta-unsaturated lactam could be condensed with isobutyraldehyde to produce Z-pulchellalactam or converted into siloxypyrrole, which was subjected to the BF(3) x Et(2)O-promoted coupling reaction with isobutyraldehyde to afford E-pulchellalactam after E1-cB elimination and TFA deprotection. This first total synthesis afforded Z-pulchellalactam in six steps and 32% overall yield from Boc-glycine. The same sequence of reactions could also be applied to the liquid- or solid-phase synthesis of trifunctionalized pulchellalactam derivatives.     

Expeditious synthesis of ‘P’-protected macrocycles en route to lanthanide chelate metal complexes

Phosphonic acid appended tetraazacyclododecane (cyclen)-based macrocycles are attractive metal-ion chelators for diagnostic imaging and therapeutic delivery. Here, we report a novel P-protected methodology that facilitates the rapid synthesis and purification of targeted phosphonic acid bearing macrocycles. Purification of these intermediates is facile, and deprotection using neat TFA is rapid, yet mild enough to preserve the integrity of delicate peptides and/or targeting moieties.     

THAL, a sterically unhindered linker for the solid-phase synthesis of acid-sensitive protected peptide acids

The 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,4-ethylenedioxythienyl alcohol (THAL, Thiophene Acid Labile) is described as a new linker for the solid-phase synthesis of peptide carboxylic acids. It is based on the electron-rich 3,4-ethylenedioxythenyl (EDOTn) moiety and allows the obtention of free and tert-butyl-protected peptides by cleavage with 90% and 0.5% TFA, respectively. This very high acid lability makes it useful for the synthesis of sensitive peptides. Free and tert-butyl-protected Leu-enkephalins have been synthesized as models to demonstrate the utility of the linker.     

Resin-bound aminothiols: synthesis and application

Aminothiols were attached through their thiol group onto the 4,4′-dimethoxytrityl (Dmt)-, 4-methoxytrityl (Mmt)-, 4-methyltrityl (Mtt)-, trityl (Trt)- and 2-chlorotrityl (Clt)-resins. The new resins were used in the solid-phase synthesis of aminothiol containing peptides utilizing N-Fmoc amino acids. The synthesized peptides were cleaved from the resins by treatment with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) solutions using triethylsilane (TES) or ethanedithiol (EDT) as scavengers.     

Operationally simple and efficient workup procedure for TBAF-mediated desilylation: application to halichondrin synthesis

An operationally simple and efficient workup method for tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF)-mediated t-butyldimethylsilyl (TBS) deprotection has been developed. The procedure includes addition of a sulfonic acid resin and calcium carbonate, followed by filtration and evaporation. This method eliminates the tedious aqueous-phase extraction process to remove excess TBAF and materials derived from TBAF, thereby making the protocol highly amenable to multiple TBS deprotections. Its efficiency and usefulness were demonstrated by using the transformation of 1a to 3a in the halichondrin synthesis. [reaction: see text].     

Parallel synthesis and biological screening of dopamine receptor ligands taking advantage of a click chemistry based BAL linker

The click-chemistry-derived formyl indolyl methyl triazole (FIMT) resin 1a was evaluated for the parallel solid-phase synthesis of a series of BP-897-type arylcarboxamides. By application of a five-step sequence (including loading by reductive amination, subsequent amide coupling, deprotection, palladium-catalyzed N-arylation, and acidic cleavage), a focused library of putative dopamine D3 receptor ligands was constructed. The final products revealed good to excellent purity and were screened for binding at monoaminergic G-protein-coupled receptors when selected library members proved to show excellent binding affinity, especially toward the dopamine D3 receptor subtype.     

Design, synthesis and functional analysis of dansylated polytheonamide mimic: an artificial Peptide ion channel

We report herein the design, total synthesis, and functional analysis of a novel artificial ion channel molecule, designated as dansylated polytheonamide mimic (3). The channel 3 was designed based on an exceptionally potent cytotoxin, polytheonamide B (1). Our strategy for the development of synthetic ion channels, which could be easily derivatized for various functions, involved two key features. First, the structure of 1 was simplified by replacing many of nonproteinogenic amino acid residues which required multistep synthesis by commercially available amino acids while retaining those residues necessary for folding. It significantly reduced the number of synthetic steps and facilitated a practical chemical construction of 3. Second, the introduction of propargyl glycine at residue 44 enabled facile installation of dansyl group as a reporter of the membrane localization of 3. Application of a newly designed protective group strategy provided efficient construction of the 37 amino acid sequence of residues 12-48 through one automatic solid-phase peptide synthesis. After peptide cleavage from the resin, 3 was synthesized via dansyl group introduction and one fragment-coupling reaction with residues 1-11, followed by the global deprotection. The simplified mimic 3 exhibited potent cytotoxicity toward p388 mouse leukemia cells (IC(50) = 12 nM), effectively induced ion transport across the lipid bilayers of liposomes, and displayed H(+) and Na(+) ion channel activities. Because of its simplified yet functional scaffold structure with a potential for diversification, our rationally designed ion channel molecule should be useful as a novel platform for developing various cytotoxic channel molecules with additional desired functions.