Secretory phospholipase A2 hydrolysis of phospholipid analogues is dependent on water accessibility to the active site

A new and unnatural type of phospholipids with the head group attached to the 2-position of the glycerol backbone has been synthesized and shown to be a good substrate for secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2). To investigate the unexpected sPLA2 activity, we have compared three different phospholipids by using fluorescence techniques and HPLC, namely: (R)-1,2-dipalmitoyl-glycero-3-phosphocholine (hereafter referred to as 1R), (R)-1-O-hexadecyl-2-palmitoyl-glycero-3-phoshocholine (2R), and (S)-1-O-hexadecyl-3-palmitoyl-glycero-2-phosphocholine (3S). Furthermore, to understand the underlying mechanisms for the observed differences, we have performed molecular dynamics simulations to clarify on a structural level the substrate specificity of sPLA2 toward phospholipid analogues with their head groups in the 2-position of the glycerol backbone. We have studied the lipids above 1R, 2R, and 3S as well as their enantiomers 1S, 2S, and 3R. In the simulations of sPLA2-1S and sPLA2-3R, structural distortion in the binding cleft induced by the phospholipids showed that these are not substrates for sPLA2. In the case of the phospholipids 1R, 2R, and 3S, our simulations revealed that the difference observed experimentally in sPLA2 activity might be caused by reduced access of water molecules to the active site. We have monitored the number of water molecules that enter the active site region for the different sPLA2-phospholipid complexes and found that the probability of a water molecule reaching the correct position such that hydrolysis can occur is reduced for the unnatural lipids. The relative water count follows 1R > 2R > 3S. This is in good agreement with experimental data that indicate the same trend for sPLA2 activity: 1R > 2R > 3S.     

Simiranes A and B: erythroxylanes diterpenes and other compounds from Simira eliezeriana (Rubiaceae)

The first phytochemical study of Simira eliezeriana Peixoto (Rubiaceae) allowed the isolation and structural determination of two new diterpenes named simirane A [(5R,6R,8R,9R,10S,11S,13S)-6β,11β-dihydroxy-2,4(18),15-erythroxylatrien-1-one] (1) and simirane B [(5S,8R,9R,10S,11S,13S)-11β-hydroxy-2,4(18),15-erythroxylatrien-1-one] (2), together with seven known compounds: sitosterol (3), stigmasterol (4), campesterol (5), coniferaldehyde (6), vanillin (7), pinoresinol (8) and harman (9) from the bark of the plant. The structures of the compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic methods, including 1-D and 2-D NMR, HRESI-MS and CD analysis and comparisons with available literature data of known compounds.     

Lipase-catalyzed transesterification of 2-hydroxy-2-(pentafluorophenyl)acetonitrile leading to (1R,2R)- and (1S,2S)-bis(pentafluorophenyl)ethane-1,2-diol

Optically pure (1R,2R)- and (1S,2S)-1,2-bis(pentafluorophenyl)ethane-1,2-diol (1) were synthesized from key intermediates (R)- and (S)-2-hydroxy-2-(pentafluorophenyl)acetonitrile (2), both of which were prepared by the lipase LIP-catalyzed transesterification (E = 465). The absolute configuration of (S)-2 was determined by X-ray structural analysis after transformation into (S)-alpha-cyano-2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl (S)-6-methoxy-alpha-methyl-2-naphthaleneacetate (S,S)-9. In addition, the crystal structure of (S,S)-9 has an interesting well-ordered packing pattern which shows face-to-face stacking interactions and end-to-end parallel contacts between the pentafluorophenyl and 6-methoxynaphthyl groups of the adjacent molecules.     

一种新的具有双螺旋结构特征的光学活性分子方的设计、合成及其光学性质

分别从手性构型高度稳定的(R)和(S)-2,2'-二乙炔基-1,1'-联萘模板出发, 通过保护基的控制导入、偶联反应、保护基脱去以及分子间偶合成环4个步骤成功地合成了一种具有螺旋结构特征的新的光学活性分子方(Molecular square)(R,R,R,R)-1和(S,S,S,S)-1. 用MS, IR, UV-Vis, 1H和13C NMR以及元素分析等方法对目标化合物进行了结构表征. 测定并分析比较了2个目标化合物的比旋光度[α]D和圆二色性(CD)等光学性质. 在CH2Cl2溶液中, 异构体(R,R,R,R)-1和(S,S,S,S)-1的[α]25D值分别为+887.3°和-889.7°, 并且其CD谱表现出对称的镜像特征.     

Direct observation of enantiomer discrimination of epoxides by chiral salen complexes using ENDOR

Electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectroscopy was used to investigate the weak enantioselective binding between chiral salen complexes [VO(1)] ((R,R)- and (S,S)-vanadyl N,N'-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalcylidene)-1,2-cyclohexanediamine) and chiral epoxides (e.g., (R)-/(S)-propylene epoxide, 5) in frozen (10 K) solution. Differences in epoxide binding by enatiomers of [VO(1)] was evidenced by changes to the 1H epoxide derived peaks in the ENDOR spectra, such that (R,R)-[VO(1)] + (R)-5 and (R,R)-[VO(1)] + (S)-5 yield noticeably different spectra. These changes were assigned to the small structural differences between the diastereomeric metal-epoxide adducts. Simulation of the spectra revealed differences in the VO...1Hepoxide distances for the diastereomeric pairs, which was confirmed by a complementary set of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. While the epoxide molecule is very weakly coordinated, ENDOR measurements of the racemic complex in racemic epoxide nevertheless indicated the preferential coordination of the (R)-5 to (R,R)-[VO(1)] (likewise (S)-(5) to (S,S)-[VO(1)]), which is favored over the binding of (S)-5 epoxide to (R,R)-[VO(1)] (and likewise (R)-5 epoxide to (S,S)-[VO(1)]). This demonstrates the unique power of the ENDOR technique to resolve weak chiral interactions for which EPR spectroscopy alone lacks sufficient resolution.     

Antimalarial and cytotoxic activities of bicycl

Biological evaluations of bicyclo[6.4.0]dodecenone derivatives on antimalarial activity in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum and cytotoxicity against human KB cells were made. (+/-)-(1R*,4S*,7R*,8S*)-4-tert-Butyl-dimethylsiloxy-5,5-dimethyl-1-methyl-9-methylene-7-phenylsulfonylbicyclo[6.4.0]dodec-2,11-dien-10-one (15) exhibited potent antimalarial activity, whereas (+/-)-(1R*,7R*,8S*)-1-methyl-9-methylene-7-phenylsulfonylbicyclo[6.4.0]dodec-2,11-dien-10-one (14) showed significant cytotoxic activity in human KB cells. Both 14 and 15 possess, as a structural character, the exo-methylene moiety in their 6-membered ring of the 8-6 fused ring system.     

Synthesis of (+)-uniflorine a: a structural reassignment and a configurational assignment

The total synthesis of (+)-uniflorine A has allowed for the structural reassignment and the configurational assignment of the alkaloid (-)-uniflorine A from a 1,2,6,7,8-pentahydroxyindolizidine structure to (-)-(1 R,2 R,3 R,6 R,7 S,7a R)-1,2,6,7-tetrahydroxy-3-hydroxymethylpyrrolizidine (6- epi-casuarine).     

Synthesis,structure revision,and absolute configuration of (+)-didemniserinolipid B,a serinol marine natural product from a tunicate Didemnum sp

[structure: see text] En route to proving the absolute and relative stereochemistry, through synthesis, of (+)-didemniserinolipid B (1), the first natural serinolipid isolated from a tunicate Didemnum sp., it was discovered that the isolated natural product was in fact the 31-sulfate configured 8R,9R,10R,13S,30S. This structural reassignment was only possible after the development of a microwave-assisted method for the sulfation of unreactive hydroxyl groups.     

2,2'-二乙炔基-1,1'-联萘为模板构筑的新的环芳化合物的合成及其光学性质

基于2,2'-二取代的联萘衍生物在手性构型上高度稳定的特点,分别以光学活性的(R)-和(S)-2,2'-二乙炔基-1,1'-联萘为模板,设计了2个有趣的拓扑环芳分子四联萘笼状对映异构体(R,R,R,R)-2和(S,S,S,S)-2.其合成路线涉及保护基的控制导入、苯连接桥的链接、保护基的脱去以及偶合成环反应4个步骤.用MS,IR,UV-Vis,1HNMR,13CNMR和元素分析等技术对其进行了表征,并比较了其光学性质.研究结果表明,采用这种模板合成方法能够有效地获得具有单一手性的目标化合物.镜像特征的圆二色(CD)谱和比旋光度[α]D的测定结果清楚地反映了它们的对映异构关系.     

Chiral receptors for phosphate ions

The binding tendencies of the enantiomeric forms, R,R and S,S, of the neutral receptor 1 towards anions were investigated through UV-vis and 1H NMR titration experiments in DMSO. Both enantiomers form stable H-bond complexes with carboxylates and phosphates. In particular, receptor 1 strongly binds two H2PO4- ions according two stepwise equilibria, in which logK2 is higher than logK1. Such an unusual cooperativity effect is to be ascribed to the formation of strong H-bond interactions between the two H2PO4- anions, when bound to the two urea subunits of the receptor, as demonstrated by the crystal and molecular structures of the 1 : 2 complex salt: [Bu4N]2[R,R-1...(H2PO4)2]. The S,S enantiomer forms an H-bond complex with the biologically relevant D-2,3-diphosphoglycerate anion, whose association constant is twice that of the R,R complex. Such an effect is ascribed to the different structural features of the two diastereomeric complexes in solution, as shown by 31P NMR studies.     

残基突变对P53-DNA结合域肽段构象影响的分子动力学模拟

基于分子动力学模拟方法研究了R249S、R248W 和G245S 突变对P53-DNA 结合域肽段(残基230-258)结构的影响. 采用GROMACS 软件包和GROMOS 43A1分子力场, 分别对野生型wtP53肽段、单点突变型P53-R249S肽段、两点突变型P53-R249S/R248W肽段和三点突变型P53-R249S/R248W/G245S肽段进行了4组独立的分子动力学模拟, 每组体系模拟时间为500 ns. 研究结果表明: R249S单残基突变影响肽段残基形成二级结构的情况, 但不改变肽段三维结构的模式, 同时使该肽段结构相对稳定; R249S和R248W两残基同时突变会加剧R249S突变对肽段的影响, 同时导致三维结构发生较大变化, 构象弯曲呈现双turn 结构, 肽段稳定性进一步增大; G245S突变对肽段的影响与R249S和R248W同时突变对其结构的影响相反, 在两残基突变的基础上, G245S突变会使原突变引起的变化减弱甚至消失, 同时使得该肽段结构稳定性减小. 该研究对认识肿瘤致病分子机制和设计新药物有重要意义.     

人参中达玛烷型皂苷的化学转化产物结构和转化途径研究

利用高效液相色谱-电喷雾-多级串联质谱(HPLC-ESI-MSn)技术分析人参中3种达玛烷型皂苷(三七皂苷R1,人参皂苷Rd、20(S)-Rg3)在12-磷钨酸环境中转化的产物结构和转化途径。由原人参三醇型皂苷R1转化获得9种产物:20(S)-25-OH-R2、20(R)-25-OH-R2、25-OH-T5、20(S)-R2、20(R)-R2、20(S)-25-epoxy-R2、20(R)-25-epoxy-R2、T5、3β,12β-二羟基-6α-(2-O-β-D-吡喃木糖基-β-D-吡喃葡糖氧基)达玛烷-20(22),24-二烯。由原人参二醇型皂苷Rd和20(S)-Rg3转化得到10种产物:20(S)-25-OH-Rg3、20(R)-25-OH-Rg3、25-OH-Rk1、25-OH-Rg5、20(S)-Rg3、20(R)-Rg3、(20S,25)-epoxy-Rg3、(20R,25)-epoxy-Rg3、Rk1、Rg5。通过分析转化产物结构,并考察主要产物含量随转化时间的变化趋势,总结了人参中达玛烷型皂苷在酸性水溶液环境中的转化途径,即通过C20位去糖基化和差向异构化反应,以及烯烃链的水合、脱水、环合反应转化为稀有皂苷。     

Biocatalytic asymmetric rearrangement of a methylene-interrupted bis-epoxide: simultaneous control of four asymmetric centers through a biomimetic reaction cascade

Asymmetric enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis of methylene-interrupted bis-epoxides 1 a and 1 b catalyzed by bacterial epoxide hydrolases furnished tetrahydrofuran derivatives 2 a and 2 b through a hydrolysis-rearrangement cascade. Whereas racemic bis-oxiranes 1 b-d underwent kinetic resolution with moderate stereoselectivities to yield products with up to 92 % ee and 66 % de: meso-bis-oxirane cis,cis-1 a was transformed into (6R,7R,9S,10S)-2 a in 94 % ee and 89 % de at high conversion (85 %) by Rhodococcus sp. CBS 717.73 as the major product. The reaction sequence resembles a biomimetic reaction cascade and provides an efficient entry into the structural core of annonaceous acetogenins with simultaneous control of four stereocenters.     

The [Fe(III)[Fe(III)(L1)2]3] star-type single-molecule magnet

Star-shaped complex [Fe(III)[Fe(III)(L1)2]3] (3) was synthesized starting from N-methyldiethanolamine H2L1 (1) and ferric chloride in the presence of sodium hydride. For 3, two different high-spin iron(III) ion sites were confirmed by M?ssbauer spectroscopy at 77 K. Single-crystal X-ray structure determination revealed that 3 crystallizes with four molecules of chloroform, but, with only three molecules of dichloromethane. The unit cell of 3.4CHCl3 contains the enantiomers (delta)-[(S,S)(R,R)(R,R)] and (lambda)-[(R,R)(S,S)(S,S)], whereas in case of 3.3CH2Cl2 four independent molecules, forming pairs of the enantiomers [lambda-(R,R)(R,R)(R,R)]-3 and [lambda-(S,S)(S,S)(S,S)]-3, were observed in the unit cell. According to SQUID measurements, the antiferromagnetic intramolecular coupling of the iron(III) ions in 3 results in a S = 10/2 ground state multiplet. The anisotropy is of the easy-axis type. EPR measurements enabled an accurate determination of the ligand-field splitting parameters. The ferric star 3 is a single-molecule magnet (SMM) and shows hysteretic magnetization characteristics below a blocking temperature of about 1.2 K. However, weak intermolecular couplings, mediated in a chainlike fashion via solvent molecules, have a strong influence on the magnetic properties. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) were used to determine the structural and electronic properties of star-type tetranuclear iron(III) complex 3. The molecules were deposited onto highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). Small, regular molecule clusters, two-dimensional monolayers as well as separated single molecules were observed. In our STS measurements we found a rather large contrast at the expected locations of the metal centers of the molecules. This direct addressing of the metal centers was confirmed by DFT calculations.     

Synthesis and crystalline and molecular structures of the morpholinylamide of N(R)-l-ephedrinylacetic acid

The synthesis of the morpholinylamide of N(R)-1-ephedrinylacetic acid has been achieved by the interaction of (5S,6R)-4,5-dimethyl-6-phenylmorpholin-2-one with morpholine, and its structure has been shown by IR and PMR spectroscopies and x-ray structural analysis.Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 108–112, January–February, 1999.     

Four new 3,5-cyclosteroidal saponins from Dracaena surculosa

Further search for steroidal compounds contained in Dracaena surculosa (Agavaceae) led to the isolation of two new 3,5-cyclospirostanol saponins (1, 2) and two new 3,5-cyclofurostanol saponins (3, 4). Their structural assignment was established by spectroscopic analysis and a few chemical transformations as (24S,25R)-1beta-[(beta-D-fucopyranosyl)oxy]-6beta-hydroxy-3alpha,5alpha-cyclospirostan-24-yl beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), (24S,25R)-1beta-[(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]-6beta-hydroxy-3alpha,5alpha-cyclospirostan-24-yl beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), (25S)-1beta-[(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]-6beta-hydroxy-22alpha-methoxy-3alpha,5alpha-cyclofurostan-26-yl beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), and (25S)-1beta-[(beta-D-fucopyranosyl)oxy]-6beta-hydroxy-22alpha-methoxy-3alpha,5alpha-cyclofurostan-26-yl beta-D-glucopyranoside (4), respectively.     

Complete stereochemistry of neamphamide A and absolute configuration of the beta-methoxytyrosine residue in papuamide B

The absolute stereochemistry of the three unresolved structural components in neamphamide A (1) was determined to be (R)-beta-methoxy-L-tyrosine, (2R,3R,4S)-4-amino-7-guanidino-2,3-dihydroxyheptanoic acid, and (2R,3R,4R)-3-hydroxy-2,4,6-trimethylheptanoic acid. Stereochemical assignments were made by chemical degradation of 1, derivatization of the resulting products, and then spectroscopic and chromatographic comparison of the derivatives with synthetically prepared standards. Using the same analytical protocol developed for 1, the beta-methoxytyrosine residue in papuamide B (2) was found to be (R)-beta-methoxy-D-tyrosine. This represents a rare example of divergent stereochemistry in an unusual amino acid residue that is present in two closely related classes of peptides.     

Chiral pyridylamino-ruthenium(II) complexes: synthesis, structure and catalytic properties in Diels-Alder reactions

Half-sandwich complexes [(eta(6)-arene)RuCl(pyam)][SbF(6)] (pyam = L(n) = N-(2-pyridylmethyl)-(R)-1-phenylethylamine (L(1)), N-(2-pyridylmethyl)-(R)-1-naphthylethylamine (L(2)), N-(2-quinolylmethyl)-(R)-1-naphthylethylamine (L(3)), N-(2-pyridylmethyl)-(R)-1-cyclohexylethylamine (L(4)), N-(2-pyridylmethyl)-(1R,2S,4R)-1-bornylamine (L(5))) have been synthetised and characterised. Treatment of these compounds with AgSbF(6) generates dicationic complexes [(eta(6)-arene)Ru(pyam)(H(2)O)](2+) which act as enantioselective catalysts for the Diels-Alder reactions of methacrolein and cyclopentadiene. The catalytic reactions occur quickly at room temperature with good exo : endo selectivity (from 84 : 16 to 98 : 2) and moderate enantioselectivity (up to 74% ee). The molecular structures of the chloride complexes (R(Ru),S(N),R(C))-[(eta(6)-p-MeC(6)H(4)iPr)RuClL(1)][SbF(6)], (R(Ru),S(N),S(C2))-[(eta(6)-p-MeC(6)H(4)iPr)RuClL(5)][SbF(6)], and that of the aqua complex (R(Ru),S(N),S(C2))-[(eta(6)-p-MeC(6)H(4)iPr)RuL(5)(H(2)O)][SbF(6)](2), were determined by X-ray diffractometric methods. The distinctive variations observed in the molecular structures of these complexes only concern the puckering parameters of the metallacycle and the relative disposition of substituents within this ring. A clear trend to localise the most steric demanding substituents at equatorial positions is evident from the structural study.     

X-Ray structural investigation of 1,3,6-trichloro-3,6-dimethylcycloheptanecarbonitrile and 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-dichlorohexane — Products of the reaction of 2,5-dimethyl-1,5-hexadiene with trichloroacetonitrile

Addition of trichloroacetonitrile to 2,5-dimethyl-1,5-hexadiene in the presence of cuprous amine complexes is studied. Single crystal X-ray diffraction unambiguously proves that the main product is a racemic mixture of the cyclic symmetric nitrile: (1r,3R,6S)-and (1r,3S,6R)-1,3,6-trichloro-3,6-dimethylcycloheptanecarbonitrile. Established relative configuration of the product confirms the ring closure mechanism suggested before. Also, a side product 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-dichlorohexane is isolated (the product of hydrochlorination of the starting alkadiene). Low-temperature (190 K) structural examination of this centrosymmetrical molecule indicates that the unit cell comprises one molecule.