Synthesis of the peptide moiety of the jamaicamides

The jamaicamides, isolated from cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula in Jamaica, are unique mixed polyketide-peptides that are reported to be blockers of the sodium channels. The peptide moiety contains a pyrrolinone ring and a β-methoxy enone functionality. Herein, we report the stereoselective synthesis of the N-(Boc)₂-protected peptide moiety of the jamaicamides by utilizing Meldrum’s acid starting from l-alanine and N-Boc-β-alanine.     

The vicinal F-C-C-F moiety as a tool for influencing peptide conformation

Diastereoisomers of bis(amino acid amides) of 2,3-difluorosuccinic acid have been prepared and the erythro- and threo-isomers display very different conformations.     

Structure and reactivity of new phosphine ligands containing the hemi-labile sulfone moiety

New heterofunctional phosphine ligands have been synthesised, incorporating the substitutionally labile sulfone and sulfonamide moieties as chelating groups, which display activity in the palladium-catalysed Suzuki and amination cross-coupling reactions. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies of the complexes formed with [Pd(mu-Cl)(dmba)] (dmba-H = N,N-dimethylbenzylamine) highlight the coordinating nature of these ligands; showing the formation of a bis chelate complex through a six-membered Pd-P-C-C-S-O ring with the sulfonamide class of ligands.     

Influence of chirality of the preceding acyl moiety on the cis/trans ratio of the proline peptide bond

We report that the cis/trans ratio of the proline peptide bond can be strongly influenced by the chirality of the acyl residue preceding proline. Acyl moieties derived from (2S)-2,6-dimethyl-3-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazine-2-carboxylic acid (8) and (2R)-3-methoxy-2-methyl-2-(4-methyl-2-nitrophenoxy)-3-oxopropanoic acid (5) in acyl-Pro molecules influence isomerization of the proline peptide bond constraining the omega dihedral angle to the trans orientation. Structures of benzyl (2S)-1-([(2S)-2,6-dimethyl-3-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-2-yl]carbonyl)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate (3) derived from 2D (1)H NMR conformational analysis and crystallographic data exhibit only the trans conformation of proline peptide bond. On the other hand the diastereomer 4, which contains an (R) acyl moiety, exhibits two sets of signals in (1)H NMR spectra. The signals were assigned to trans (72%) and cis (28%) conformers. Crystallographic analysis of 4 showed that only the cis conformation is present in the crystalline state. The (1)H NMR chemical shift pattern of three sets of signals observed in 2 was observed also in benzyl (2S)-1-[(2R/S)-3-methoxy-2-methyl-2-(4-methyl-2-nitrophenoxy)-3-oxopropanoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate. (R)-Carboxylic acid 5, after coupling with (S)-ProOBn, yielded benzyl (2S)-1-[(2R)-3-methoxy-2-methyl-2-(4-methyl-2-nitrophenoxy)-3-oxopropanoyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate (6), which in DMSO-d(6) exhibited only the trans conformation of the proline peptide bond. These results suggest that in these particular cases acyl-Pro peptide bond isomerization is strongly influenced by the stereochemistry of the acyl residue preceding proline. (2S)-2,6-Dimethyl-3-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazine-2-carboxylic acid (8) and (2R)-3-methoxy-2-methyl-2-(4-methyl-2-nitrophenoxy)-3-oxopropanoic acid (5) are promising chiral peptidomimetic building blocks that can be used as acyl moieties to force the proline peptide bond into the trans conformation in a variety of acyl-Pro molecules.     

Structure of amipurimycin,a nucleoside antibiotic having a novel branched sugar moiety

Structure of amipurimycin was determined chemically to be $\text{1}$.     

Novel ammonium phosphinates containing peptide moiety: Synthesis, structure, and in vitro antimicrobial activity

Five new ammonium phosphinates with formula [XC₆H₄NHC(O)NHP(O)YO]^?[H₂Y]⁺ (Y = N(CH₃)(CH₂C₆H₅), X = H (IV), CH₃ (V), NO₂ (VI); Y = NH(CH₂C₆H₅), X = H (VII), NO₂ (VIII)) were synthesised by the reaction of N-arylureidophoshoryl dichlorides with N-methylbenzylamine or benzylamine in the presence of an excess amount of the corresponding amine. All new compounds were characterised by NMR and IR spectral data and elemental analysis. Their antimicrobial activity was tested against some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. Compounds IV and VIII exhibited moderate activity in vitro against Bacillus subtilis. In addition, compound VIII moderately inhibited Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The crystal structure of benzylmethylammonium(3-phenylureido)(benzylmethylamino)phosphinate (IV) was also determined. This compound crystallises in the orthorhombic system.     

Structure of the stapled p53 peptide bound to Mdm2

Mdm2 is a major negative regulator of the tumor suppressor p53 protein, a protein that plays a crucial role in maintaining genome integrity. Inactivation of p53 is the most prevalent defect in human cancers. Inhibitors of the Mdm2-p53 interaction that restore the functional p53 constitute potential nongenotoxic anticancer agents with a novel mode of action. We present here a 2.0 ? resolution structure of the Mdm2 protein with a bound stapled p53 peptide. Such peptides, which are conformationally and proteolytically stabilized with all-hydrocarbon staples, are an emerging class of biologics that are capable of disrupting protein-protein interactions and thus have broad therapeutic potential. The structure represents the first crystal structure of an i, i + 7 stapled peptide bound to its target and reveals that rather than acting solely as a passive conformational brace, a staple can intimately interact with the surface of a protein and augment the binding interface.     

Synthesis and biological property of alpha-human atrial natriuretic peptide analogs with a constrained or stereochemically modified cyclic moiety

Conformationally restricted analogs of alpha-human atrial natriuretic peptide (alpha-hANP) containing L- or D-penicillamine, or D-cysteine in place of cysteine residues at positions 7 and 23 were synthesized by the liquid phase procedure. Their biological properties in the assays of receptor binding and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) accumulation employing rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), vasorelaxant activity using rat isolated aorta were evaluated. We found that the constrained and/or stereochemically altered ring moiety generally did not influence the receptor binding activity, however, cGMP accumulation and vasorelaxant activities were quite sensitive to conformational perturbation. Furthermore, a lack of correlation between cGMP accumulation activity and vasorelaxant activity was observed. Dissociation between these activities was typical in the case of [DPen7,23]-alpha-hANP(7-28), which showed quite weak vasorelaxant activity in spite of its full cGMP accumulation and receptor binding potencies. This result suggests that cGMP accumulation alone is not sufficient to promote ANP-induced vasorelaxation, and that the other second messenger(s) may mediate this activity.     

Structure and noncanonical chemistry of nonribosomal peptide biosynthetic machinery

Covering up to January 2012Structural biology has provided significant insights into the complex chemistry and macromolecular organization of nonribosomal peptide synthetases. In addition, novel pathways are continually described, expanding the knowledge of known biosynthetic chemistry.     

New heterocyclic tetrathiafulvalene compounds with an azobenzene moiety: photomodulation of the electron-donating ability of the tetrathiafulvalene moiety

New heterocyclic TTF compounds 1a-c and 2 with an azobenzene moiety were described. The oxidation potential of 1a could be reversibly modulated by alternating UV and visible light irradiation. As a result, a molecular switch with UV/visible light as the inputs and the electrochemical signal as the output was achieved. Moreover, it was found that the influence of the azobenzene photoisomerization on the electronic property of the TTF unit became stronger with shorter spacers in compounds 1a-c.     

Structure of a novel nitrido technetium complex with the peptide chelate ligand KYCAR

A novel nitrido technetium complex was synthesized by the reaction of the KYCAR (lysyl-tyrosyl-cystyl-alanyl-arginine) ligand with [(n-C₄H₉)₄N][⁹⁹TcNCl₄]. The structure of the complex was analyzed by ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR and IR spectroscopy as well as by elemental analysis. The nitrido technetium complex with KYCAR has a square pyramidal structure in which two KYCARs coordinate to the Tc atom through both an N and a deprotonated S atom of cysteine. The complex possesses a trans configuration.     

Structure and properties of low molecular weight amphiphilic peptide hydrogelators

The search for low molecular weight hydrogelators (LMWH) with varying structural motif is getting intense because of its potential application in the field of biomedicines as well as the diversified area of nano-biotechnology. In this paper, we have developed hydrogels of simple cationic dipeptide amphiphiles that have a wide range of minimum gelation concentration (MGC), 12-0.25% (w/v) in plain water. The self-aggregation behavior of these thermoreversible hydrogelators has been investigated through different spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. A balanced participation of hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity is the major driving force for gelation, which could be modulated by a minute change in the architecture of the amphiphile head. The prospective use of this material in controlled release suggests that this system could also be applied as the drug delivery vehicle. Moreover, the presence of a biodegradable amide linkage susceptible to base or enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis increases its probable applications as biomaterials.     

Absolute stereochemistry of the triol moiety of gymnoprenols

Absolute configuration of the triol portion in gymnoprenols, the polyisoprenepolyols obtained from mushroom $\text{Gymnopilus spectabilis}$, has been established as 2S and 3R by a stereocontrolled synthesis of the enantiomer of a chemical degradation product of gymnoprenol.     

Enantioselective synthesis of the alcohol moiety of dolabriferol

Dolabriferol is a marine polypropionate characterized by an unusual noncontiguous carbon backbone. The two polypropionate subunits are linked by an ester function. The protected alcohol moiety of dolabriferol was synthesized via the enzymatic desymmetrization of meso-(anti-anti)-2,4-dimethyl-1,3,5-pentanetriol.