Haloperoxidase activity of oxovanadium(V) thiobisphenolates

By employing the 2,2'-thiobis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenolate) ligand ((S)L(2-)) a novel oxovanadium(V) complex, (PPh(4))(2)[(S)LV(O)(μ(2)-O)(2)V(O)(S)L] (1), was synthesised that exhibits haloperoxidase activity: on addition of H(2)O(2) a sequence of successive peroxide formation and intramolecular thioether oxidation events (sulfoxide and sulfone) led to a mixture of five products, which were all identified unambiguously, partly through an independent synthesis and characterisation. It was shown that internal thioether oxidation proceeds through peroxide formation, but the sulfoxidation of external thioether functions requires further activation of the peroxide function by protons or alkyl cations. Consistently, the employment of tBuOOH instead of H(2)O(2) led to a very active system for the catalytic sulfoxidation of thioethers.     

Synthesis and characteristics of polydepsipeptide with pendant thiol groups

To obtain water-soluble oligodepsipeptide with pendant thiol groups, the alternating co-oligomer [oligo(Glc-alt-Cys)], consisting of glycolic acid (Glc) and L -cysteine (Cys) residues as α-hydroxy acid and α-amino acid residues, respectively, was prepared by means of ring-opening homo-oligomerization of cyclo[Glc-Cys(MBzl)] and subsequent deprotection of methoxybenzyl groups. Moreover, to modify the properties of poly(lactic acid) [poly(LA)] and to introduce pendant thiol groups to poly(LA), the terpolymer of LA, Glc, and Cys {poly[LA-(Glc-Cys)]} was synthesized through ring-opening and copolymerization of L -lactide with the protected cyclodepsipeptide, cyclo[Glc-Cys(MBzl)] and subsequent deprotection of methoxybenzyl groups. By changing the mol fraction of (Glc-Cys) unit, the solubility, thermal transition, degradation behavior of the modified poly(LA), and the water contact angle of its film could be varied. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1283–1290, 1998     

Synthesis of Peptide Cysteine Dimedone Using Fmoc-Cys(Dmd)-OH: Glutathione Cysteine Dimedone as a Probe in Investigating the Sulfenic Acid Mediated Oxidation of Glutathione

Dimedone is the most widely used chemical probe for detection of cysteine sulfenic acid in peptides and proteins. The reaction of dimedone with cysteine sulfenic acid results in the formation of unique cysteine dimedone motif containing thioether bridge. Based on the structure of cysteine dimedone residue in polypeptide, a new building block of Fmoc-Cys(Dmd)-OH was developed for solid phase synthesis of peptide cysteine dimedone. Mass spectrometric sequencing of synthetic peptides have confirmed successful incorporation of cysteine dimedone in peptide chain using HBTU/HOBt as a coupling agent. The new method permits synthesis of peptides containing both cysteine thiol and cysteine dimedone in the same sequence which was difficult to achieve by conventional methods. The synthetic peptide of glutathione cysteine dimedone was used as a standard in probing the air-mediated oxidation of thiol to disulfide form of glutathione. The co-elution of standard peptide and reaction mixture of oxidation of glutathione in presence of dimedone using RP-HPLC have confirmed the formation of glutathione cysteine sulfenic as an intermediate in the air-mediated oxidation of glutathione. The synthetic peptides of cysteine dimedone may find application in the field of redox proteomics and generation of antibodies against modified cysteine residue.     

Coordination chemistry of the antitumor metallocene molybdocene dichloride with biological ligands

The relative affinity of molybdocene dichloride (Cp(2)MoCl(2)) for the thiol, amino, carboxylate, phosphate(O) and heterocyclic(N) donor ligands present in amino acids and nucleotides, has been studied in aqueous solutions at pH 2-7, using (1)H, (13)C and (31)P NMR spectroscopy. Molybdocene dichloride forms the highly water soluble, air-stable complexes Cp(2)Mo(Cys)(2) and Cp(2)Mo(GS)(2) with cysteine and glutathione respectively, via coordination of the deprotonated thiol groups. While coordination to the imidazole nitrogen in histidine was observed, no evidence for coordination of the amino or carboxylate groups in the amino acids cysteine, histidine, alanine or lysine to Cp(2)MoCl(2) was detected. Competition experiments with dAMP, ribose monophosphate and histidine showed preferential coordination to the cysteine thiol over the phosphate(O) and heterocyclic(N) groups. Cp(2)Mo(Cys)(2) is stable in the presence of excess dAMP or ribose monophosphate and Cys displaces coordinated histidine, dAMP or ribose monophosphate to give Cp(2)Mo(Cys)(2). These results provide further evidence against interaction with DNA as the key interaction that is related to the antitumor activity of molybdocene dichloride. The implications of these results for the biological activity of the antitumor metallocene and the likely species formed in vivo are discussed.     

Cofactor Biogenesis in Cysteamine Dioxygenase: C−F Bond Cleavage with Genetically Incorporated Unnatural Tyrosine

Cysteamine dioxygenase (ADO) is a thiol dioxygenase whose study has been stagnated by the ambiguity as to whether or not it possesses an anticipated protein‐derived cofactor. Reported herein is the discovery and elucidation of a Cys‐Tyr cofactor in human ADO, crosslinked between Cys220 and Tyr222 through a thioether (C?S) bond. By genetically incorporating an unnatural amino acid, 3,5‐difluoro‐tyrosine (F₂‐Tyr), specifically into Tyr222 of human ADO, an autocatalytic oxidative carbon–fluorine bond activation and fluoride release were identified by mass spectrometry and ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy. These results suggest that the cofactor biogenesis is executed by a powerful oxidant during an autocatalytic process. Unlike that of cysteine dioxygenase, the crosslinking results in a minimal structural change of the protein and it is not detectable by routine low‐resolution techniques. Finally, a new sequence motif, C‐X‐Y‐Y(F), is proposed for identifying the Cys‐Tyr crosslink.     

Light-induced NO release from iron-nitrosyl-thiolato complex: The role of noncovalent thiol/thioether

Four low-spin {FeNO}⁶ complexes, [Fe(NO)(PS2)(PS2H)] ( 1 , PS2H₂ = bis(2-dimercaptophenyl)phenylphosphine) with a pendant thiol, [Fe(NO)(PS2)(PS2CH₃)] ( 2 ) bearing a pendant thioether, and [Fe(NO)(PS2)(^RPS)] (RH, 4a ; RTMS, 4b ) without the noncovalent thiol/thioether group are spectroscopically and structurally characterized. In comparisons of the ν_NO, absorption energy in UV/vis spectra and structural parameters from single X-ray diffraction studies, the four iron-nitrosyl-thiolato compounds share similarity in electronic structure. Complex 1 with a pendant thiol leads to NO and HNO production upon exposure to the light. Photolysis of 2 bearing a pendant thioether only affords NO. Effective detection of HNO or NO from 1 or 2 is achieved by the employment of [Mn^III(^TMSPS3)(DABCO)]. In contrast, 4a and 4b show inertness toward visible-light stimulus. Photolysis and having pendant thiol/thioether group play key roles in NO production from these iron-nitrosyl-thiolato complexes, that is, the Fe-NO bond is weakened by exposure to light and the noncovalent SH of 1 or SCH₃ of 2 can serve as an incoming ligand to interact with Fe atom, resulting in a transient with intramolecular [RS⋅⋅⋅Fe⋅⋅⋅NO] interaction (RH and CH₃) which could facilitate NO dissociation.     

A homogeneous catalyst for selective O(2) oxidation at ambient temperature. diversity-based discovery and mechanistic investigation of thioether oxidation by the Au(III)Cl(2)NO(3)(thioether)/O(2) system.

A library of inorganic complexes with reversible redox chemistry and/or the ability to catalyze homogeneous oxidations by peroxides, including but not limited to combinations of polyoxometalate anions and redox-active cations, was constructed. Evaluation of library members for the ability to catalyze aerobic sulfoxidation (O(2) oxidation of the thioether, 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide, CEES) led to the discovery that a combination of HAuCl(4) and AgNO(3) forms a catalyst that is orders of magnitude faster than the previously most reactive such catalysts (Ru(II) and Ce(IV) complexes) and one effective at ambient temperature and 1 atm air or O(2). If no O(2) but high concentrations of thioether are present, the catalyst is inactivated by an irreversible formation of colloidal Au(0). However, this inactivation is minimal in the presence of O(2). The stoichiometry is R(2)S + (1)/(2)O(2) --> R(2)S(O), a 100% atom efficient oxygenation, and not oxidative dehydrogenation. However, isotope labeling studies with H(2)(18)O indicate that H(2)O and not O(2) or H(2)O(2) is the source of oxygen in the sulfoxide product; H(2)O is consumed and subsequently regenerated in the mechanism. The rate law evaluated for every species present in solution, including the products, and other kinetics data, indicate that the dominant active catalyst is Au(III)Cl(2)NO(3)(thioether) (1); the rate-limiting step involves oxidation of the substrate thioether (CEES) by Au(III); reoxidation of the resulting Au(I) to Au(III) by O(2) is a fast subsequent step. The rate of sulfoxidation as Cl is replaced by Br, the solvent kinetic isotope effect (k(H)(2)(O)/k(D)(2)(O) = 1.0), and multiparameter fitting of the kinetic data establish that the mechanism of the rate-limiting step involves a bimolecular attack of CEES on a Au(III)-bound halide and it does not involve H(2)O. The reaction is mildly inhibited by H(2)O and the CEESO product because these molecules compete with those needed for turnover (Cl(-), NO(3)(-)) as ligands for the active Au(III). Kinetic studies using DMSO as a model for CEESO enabled inhibition by CEESO to be assessed.     

Oxidative Csp3-H functionalization of 2-methylazaarenes: A practical synthesis of 2-azaarenyl-benzimidazoles and benzothiazoles

Oxidative C_sp3-H functionalization of 2-methylazaarenes using I₂-DMSO in open flask has been described first time for the synthesis of 2-azaarenyl benzimidazoles and 2-azaarenyl benzothiazoles. Generally, methyl group of 2-methylazaarenes serves as a carbon nucleophile and in this work the methyl group served as electrophilic carbon (umpolung!) and condensed with o-Phenylenediamine and 2-aminothiophenol to furnish the corresponding benzimidazoles and benzothiazoles in high yields with good substrate scope and functional group tolerance.     

Oxidation of Zn(Cys)4 zinc finger peptides by O2 and H2O2: products, mechanism and kinetics

The reactivity of a series of Zn(Cys)(4) zinc finger model peptides towards H(2)O(2) and O(2) has been investigated. The oxidation products were identified by HPLC and ESI-MS analysis. At pH<7.5, the zinc complexes and the free peptides are oxidised to bis-disulfide-containing peptides. Above pH 7.5, the oxidation of the zinc complexes by H(2)O(2) also yields sulfinate- and sulfonate-containing overoxidised peptides. At pH 7.0, monitoring of the reactions between the zinc complexes and H(2)O(2) by HPLC revealed the sequential formation of two disulfides. Several techniques for the determination of the rate constant for the first oxidation step corresponding to the attack of H(2)O(2) by the Zn(Cys)(4) site have been compared. This rate constant can be reliably determined by monitoring the oxidation by HPLC, fluorescence, circular dichroism or absorption spectroscopy in the presence of excess ethyleneglycol bis(2-aminoethyl ether)tetraacetic acid. In contrast, monitoring of the release of zinc with 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol or of the thiol content with 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) did not yield reliable values of this rate constant for the case in which the formation of the second disulfide is slower than the formation of the first. The kinetic measurements clearly evidence a protective effect of zinc on the oxidation of the cysteines by both H(2)O(2) and O(2), which points to the fact that zinc binding diminishes the nucleophilicity of the thiolates. In addition, the reaction between the zinc finger and H(2)O(2) is too slow to consider zinc fingers as potential sensors for H(2)O(2) in cells.     

Binding sites of [Ru(bpy)2(H2O)2](BF4)2 with sulfur- and histidine-containing peptides studied by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry

The composition and binding sites of cis-[Ru(II)(bpy)2]2+-bound sulfur-containing peptides of Met-Arg-Phe-Ala, glutathione and oxidized glutathione, and also histidine-containing peptide of oxidized insulin B chain, were investigated by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The composition of Ru(II)-containing peptides was precisely determined by ESI-MS, zoom scan and simulation of isotope distribution patterns. MS/MS analysis shows that, in sulfur-containing peptides, the Ru(II) complex prefers to anchor to a carboxyl group, although some other potential binding sites of thiol, thioether and N-terminal amino groups present in these peptides, and in oxidized insulin B chain, Ru(II) first anchors to His10, then either to the hydroxyl group of Thr27 or to the carboxyl group of Ala30. Its secondary structure and microenvironment surrounding the potential binding sites may affect the binding ability of cis-[Ru(II)(bpy)2]2+ to oxidized insulin B chain.     

Reactivity of Hypervalent Iodine(III) Reagents Bearing Transferable N-Based Groups

Hypervalent iodine reagents have the ability of inverting the polarity of functional groups bound to iodine, a reactivity known as umpolung. This reactivity makes hypervalent iodine compounds highly attractive for the creation of electrophilic synthons of known nucleophiles, resulting in novel synthetic disconnections and the formation of new Nu(nucleophile)−N bond. Electrophilic sources of nitrogen-based groups have been known for many decades and are of great synthetic importance. Traditionally, these reagents are limited to few examples. With the use of hypervalent iodine, the transfer of a wide diversity of nitrogen sources became a possibility. This review compiles the latest reported examples of hypervalent iodine reagents capable of electrophilic transfer of nitrogen-based groups. It showcases the preparation of such reagents, their synthetic utility, and reaction mechanisms involving these group transfer reagents.     

A cassette ligation strategy with thioether replacement of three Gly-Gly peptide bonds: total chemical synthesis of the 101 residue protein early pregnancy factor [psi(CH(2)S)28-29,56-57,76-77

The 101 residue protein "early pregnancy factor" (EPF), also known as human chaperonin 10, was synthesized from four functionalized, but unprotected, peptide segments by a sequential thioether ligation strategy. The approach exploits the differential reactivity of a peptide-NHCH(2)CH(2)SH thiolate with XCH(2)CO-peptides, where X = Cl or I/Br. Initial model studies with short functionalized (but unprotected) peptides showed a significantly faster reaction of a peptide-NHCH(2)CH(2)SH thiolate with a BrCH(2)CO-peptide than with a ClCH(2)CO-peptide, where thiolate displacement of the halide leads to chemoselective formation of a thioether surrogate for the Gly-Gly peptide bond. This rate difference was used as the basis of a novel sequential ligation approach to the synthesis of large polypeptide chains. Thus, ligation of a model bifunctional N(alpha)-chloroacetyl, C-terminal thiolated peptide with a second N(alpha)-bromoacetyl peptide demonstrated chemoselective bromide displacement by the thiol group. Further investigations showed that the relatively unreactive N(alpha)-chloroacetyl peptides could be "activated" by halide exchange using saturated KI solutions to yield the highly reactive N(alpha)-iodoacetyl peptides. These findings were used to formulate a sequential thioether ligation strategy for the synthesis of EPF, a 101 amino acid protein containing three Gly-Gly sites approximately equidistantly spaced within the peptide chain. Four peptide segments or "cassettes" comprising the EPF protein sequence (BrAc-[EPF 78-101] 12, ClAc-[EPF 58-75]-[NHCH(2)CH(2)SH] 13, ClAc-[EPF 30-55]-[NHCH(2)CH(2)SH] 14, and Ac-[EPF 1-27]-[NHCH(2)CH(2)SH] 15) of EPF were synthesized in high yield and purity using Boc SPPS chemistry. In the stepwise sequential ligation strategy, reaction of peptides 12 and 13 was followed by conversion of the N-terminal chloroacetyl functional group to an iodoacetyl, thus activating the product peptide for further ligation with peptide 14. The process of ligation followed by iodoacetyl activation was repeated to yield an analogue of EPF (EPF psi(CH(2)S)(28)(-)(29,56)(-)(57,76)(-)(77)) 19 in 19% overall yield.     

Reactions of Donor–Acceptor Cyclopropanes with Naphthoquinones: Redox and Lewis Acid Catalysis Working in Concert

Reactions of 2‐arylcyclopropane dicarboxylates with naphthoquinones are reported. The key feature was the use of catalytic amounts of SnCl₂, which acts as both an electron donor and a Lewis acid. By an in situ umpolung of naphthoquinone the formerly electrophilic species is converted into a nucleophile that is able to trigger the ring‐opening of the three‐membered ring with formation of a new C−C bond. Treatment of these products with base under oxidative conditions resulted—through loss of methyl formate—in cyclopentannulated products with fully conjugated π systems exhibiting intensive absorptions in the visible range.     

Building and Breaking Bonds via a Compact S‐Propargyl‐Cysteine to Chemically Control Enzymes and Modify Proteins

Analogous to reversible post‐translational protein modifications, the ability to attach and subsequently remove modifications on proteins would be valuable for protein and biological research. Although bioorthogonal functionalities have been developed to conjugate or cleave protein modifications, they are introduced into proteins on separate residues and often with bulky side chains, limiting their use to one type of control and primarily protein surface. Here we achieved dual control on one residue by genetically encoding S‐propargyl‐cysteine (SprC), which has bioorthogonal alkyne and propargyl groups in a compact structure, permitting usage in protein interior in addition to surface. We demonstrated its incorporation at the dimer interface of glutathione transferase for in vivo crosslinking via thiol–yne click chemistry, and at the active site of human rhinovirus 3C protease for masking and then turning on enzyme activity via Pd‐cleavage of SprC into Cys. In addition, we installed biotin onto EGFP via Sonogashira coupling of SprC and then tracelessly removed it via Pd cleavage. SprC is small in size, commercially available, nontoxic, and allows for bond building and breaking on a single residue. Genetically encoded SprC will be valuable for chemically controlling proteins with an essential Cys and for reversible protein modifications.     

How do DNA repair proteins locate potential base lesions? a chemical crosslinking method to investigate O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferases

O(6)-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferases directly reverse the alkylation on the O(6) position of guanine in DNA. This group of proteins has been proposed to repair the damaged base in an extrahelical manner; however, the detailed mechanism is not understood. Here we applied a chemical disulfide crosslinking method to probe the damage-searching mechanism of two O(6)-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferases, the Escherichia coli C-Ada and the human AGT. Crosslinking reactions with different efficiency occur between the reactive Cys residues of both proteins and a modified cytosine bearing a thiol tether in various DNA probes. Our results indicate that it is not necessary for these proteins to actively flip out every base to find damage. Instead they can locate potential lesions by simply capturing a lesioned base that is transiently extrahelical or sensing the unstable nature of a damaged base pair.     

Nine-coordinated Eu3+ Dipicolinate Compounds: Different Crystal Structures and Luminescence Properties as a Function of pH

Two compounds, Na₃[Eu(DPA)₃] ⋅ 14H₂O and [Eu(DPA)(HDPA)(H₂O)₂] ⋅ 4H₂O, were created and the structure determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction. The single crystal luminescence properties were compared and related to the Eu³⁺ coordination geometry. The formation of single crystals from solutions of Eu(CF₃SO₃)₃ and H₂DPA was found change with the pH value of the H₂DPA solution. Mixtures of Na₃[Eu(DPA)₃] ⋅ 14H₂O and [Eu(DPA)(HDPA)(H₂O)₂] ⋅ 4H₂O were observed with a pH ratio between the two structures. While visual inspection showed that all samples contained both Na₃[Eu(DPA)₃] ⋅ 14H₂O and [Eu(DPA)(HDPA)(H₂O)₂] ⋅ 4H₂O, the PXRD and luminescence data did not immediately reveal that the samples were pure. Having discovered that the samples were indeed mixtures, quantification was attempted by Rietveld refinement of the PXRD data, and the luminescence spectra were compared to those from single crystals. As the data was not found to reveal that the samples were mixtures, even though we knew that this was the case, we must urge caution when inferring structure-property relationships from powder samples. In this case we were able to isolate monophasic systems and do a comparative study, but this requires that the samples are identified as mixtures.     

Keteniminium-Driven Umpolung Difunctionalization of Ynamides

A three-component Pd-catalyzed coupling of ynamides, aryl diazonium salts, and aryl boronic acids for the synthesis of novel triaryl-substituted enamides is described. This transformation represents the first example of an umpolung regioselective unsymmetrical syn-1,2-diarylation/aryl-olefination of ynamides. The aryl moieties of the diazonium salt (electrophile) and boronic acid (nucleophile) are explicitly incorporated in the electrophilic α- and nucleophilic β-position, respectively, of the ynamide, resulting in a single isomer of the N-bearing tetrasubstituted olefin. The scope is broad (68 examples), showing excellent functional-group tolerance. DFT calculations substantiate the rationale of the mechanistic cycle and the regioselectivity. The chemoselectivity and synthetic potential of the enamide products were also studied.     

Keteniminium‐Driven Umpolung Difunctionalization of Ynamides

A three‐component Pd‐catalyzed coupling of ynamides, aryl diazonium salts, and aryl boronic acids for the synthesis of novel triaryl‐substituted enamides is described. This transformation represents the first example of an umpolung regioselective unsymmetrical syn‐1,2‐diarylation/aryl‐olefination of ynamides. The aryl moieties of the diazonium salt (electrophile) and boronic acid (nucleophile) are explicitly incorporated in the electrophilic α‐ and nucleophilic β‐position, respectively, of the ynamide, resulting in a single isomer of the N‐bearing tetrasubstituted olefin. The scope is broad (68 examples), showing excellent functional‐group tolerance. DFT calculations substantiate the rationale of the mechanistic cycle and the regioselectivity. The chemoselectivity and synthetic potential of the enamide products were also studied.     

Electrophilic substitution reactions of metallabenzynes

The electrophilic substitution reactions of metallabenzynes Os(≡CC(R)═C(CH(3))C(R)═CH)Cl(2)(PPh(3))(2) (R = SiMe(3), H) were studied. These metallabenzynes react with electrophilic reagents, including Br(2), NO(2)BF(4), NOBF(4), HCl/H(2)O(2), and AlCl(3)/H(2)O(2) to afford the corresponding bromination, nitration, nitrosation, and chlorination products. The reactions usually occur at the C2 and C4 positions of the metallacycle. These observations support the notion that metallabenzynes exhibit aromatic properties.     

Study of the Ternary Complex Formation Between Vanadium(III)-Picolinic Acid and the Amino Acids: Cysteine,Histidine, Aspartic and Glutamic Acids

The complex species formed between vanadium(III)-picolinic acid (HPic) and the amino acids: cysteine (H₂Cys), histidine (HHis), aspartic acid (H₂Asp) and glutamic acid (H₂Glu) were studied in aqueous solution by means of electromotive forces measurements emf(H) at 25 °C and 3.0 mol⋅dm⁻³ KCl as ionic medium. Data analysis using the least-squares program LETAGROP indicates the formation of ternary complexes, whose stoichiometric coefficients and stability constant were determined. In the vanadium(III)-picolinic acid-cysteine system the model obtained was: [V(Pic)(H₂Cys)]²⁺, [V(Pic)(HCys)]⁺, V(Pic)(Cys) and [V₂O(Pic)(Cys)]⁺. The vanadium(III)-picolinic acid-histidine system contained the following complexes: [V(Pic)(HHis)]²⁺, [V(Pic)(His)]⁺, V(Pic)(His)(OH) and [V(Pic)₂(HHis)]⁺. In the vanadium(III)-picolinic acid-aspartic acid system the model obtained was: V(Pic)(Asp), [V(Pic)(Asp)(OH)]⁻ and [V₂O(Pic)(Asp)]⁺ and finally, in the vanadium(III)-picolinic acid-glutamic acid system the complexes: V₂O(Pic)₂(HGlu)₂, V(Pic)(HGlu)₂ and V(Pic)₂(HGlu) were observed.