Impact of environmental conditions on the marine natural product bryostatin 1

Marine Natural Products (MNPs), such as bryostatin 1, are exposed to a range of physical and chemical conditions through the life cycle of the host organism. These include exposure to sunlight, oxidizing and reducing agents, cation binding, and adsorption to reactive metal oxide surfaces. Using Fourier Transform-Ion Cyclotron Resonance (FT-ICR), Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-MS), UV/Vis absorbance spectroscopy, and molecular modeling, we studied the impact of UV light, TiO2, I2, and reaction with FeCl3 on the structure of bryostatin 1. Our results demonstrate that natural conditions transform bryostatin to a number of structures, including one with a molar mass of 806 Da, which we have previously identified in the sediment collected from the Gulf of Mexico. To date, at least 20 different structures of bryostatin have been reported in the literature. This work suggests that these variations may be products of the chemical environment in which the bryozoa Bugula neritina resides and are not the result of genetic variations within Bugula.     

Computational studies of Fe(III) binding to bryostatins, bryostatin analogs, siderophores and marine natural products: arguments for ferric complexes in medicinal applications

In this computational study, geometric factors are calculated by applying semi-empirical methods (PM3) that support experimental evidence from this lab where bryostatins can bind trivalent iron with six Fe-O bonds forming an octahedral geometry. The geometric factors are calculated for all 20 structures (Fe3+ bound to bryostatin 1-20) as a neutral, monovalent, and divalent species. The average Fe-O bond distances and bond angles are compared to those of known marine and terrestrial siderophores. From these two data sets, we then examined other known marine natural products (MNPs) that can form a hexavalent complex with six Fe-O bonds and draw conclusions about their potential biological role as marine siderophores. This computational data indicates that Fe(III) strongly bonds to a host of MNPs, increasing their water solubility, contracting their structure, hence allowing transport through cell membranes more readily, and in some cases, stabilizing ester bonds that are susceptible to hydrolysis. It is argued that administering medicinally bryostatin, its analogs or other MNPs as a ferric complex, holds some fundamental chemical advantages compared to its administration as a neutral uncomplexed species.     

Atom-economic and stereoselective syntheses of the ring a and B subunits of the bryostatins

This article describes chemoselective and atom-economic methods for the stereoselective assembly of the ring A and B subunits of bryostatins. A Ru-catalyzed tandem alkene-alkyne coupling/Michael addition reaction was developed and applied to the synthesis of bryostatin ring B. We explored an acetylide-mediated epoxide-opening/6-exo-dig cyclization route to access the bryostatin ring A, although ring A was eventually furnished through an acid-catalyzed tandem transketalization/ketalization sequence. In addition, a dinuclear zinc-catalyzed methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) aldol strategy was evaluated for the construction of the polyacetate moiety. Utilization of these methods ultimately led to the rapid assembly of the northern bryostatin fragment containing both the ring A and B subunits.     

Convergent assembly of highly potent analogues of bryostatin 1 via pyran annulation: bryostatin look-alikes that mimic phorbol ester function

Highly potent bryostatin analogues which contain the complete bryostatin core structure have been synthesized using a pyran annulation approach as a key strategic element. The A ring pyran was assembled using a pyran annulation reaction between a C1-C8 hydroxy allylsilane and an aldehyde comprising C9-C13. This pyran was transformed to a new hydroxy allylsilane and then coupled with a preformed C ring aldehyde subunit in a second pyran annulation, with concomitant formation of the B ring. This tricyclic intermediate was elaborated to bryostatin analogues which displayed nanomolar to subnanomolar affinity for PKC, but displayed properties indistinguishable from a phorbol ester in a proliferation/attachment assay.     

Efficient synthetic access to a new family of highly potent bryostatin analogues via a Prins-driven macrocyclization strategy

The step-economical synthesis of a new class of bryostatin analogues that contain the complete oxycarbocyclic core ring system of the bryostatin natural products is reported. These agents are convergently assembled via a highly efficient, functional-group-tolerant, and stereoselective Prins-driven macrocyclization. These tetrahydropyranyl B-ring analogues are among our most potent and efficacious analogues to date, exhibiting nanomolar and picomolar activities in protein kinase C affinity assays as well as in cellular antiproliferation assays.     

Total Synthesis of Bryostatin 8 Using an Organosilane‐Based Strategy

Convergent total synthesis of bryostatin 8 has been accomplished by an organosilane‐based strategy. The C ring is constructed stereoselectively through a geminal bis(silane)‐based [1,5]‐Brook rearrangement, and the B ring through geminal bis(silane)‐based Prins cyclization, thus efficiently joining the northern and southern parts of the molecule.     

Synthesis of a simplified bryostatin C-ring analogue that binds to the CRD2 of human PKC-alpha and construction of a novel BC-analogue by an unusual Julia olefination process

[structure: see text] The synthesis of two truncated bryostatin analogues 2 and 3 is described. High-field NMR measurements on the C-ring analogue 3 in C(2)H(3)CN containing 25% (2)H(2)O have shown that it binds to the CRD2 of human PKC-alpha at virtually the same position as phorbol-13-acetate (PA) and bryostatin 1 (1). NMR titration studies have also revealed that 3 binds to the CRD2 with a potency similar in magnitude to PA but much less potently than 1.     

Identifying bryostatins and potential precursors from the bryozoan Bugula neritina

The bryozoan species Bugula neritina contains the anticancer agent bryostatin. Bryostatin has been extracted from these sessile marine invertebrates since the late 1960s from the Gulf of California, Gulf of Mexico, as well as various locations on the eastern and western rims of the Pacific Ocean. In this work we are focusing on animals harvested in the Gulf of Mexico near Alligator Point (Florida). Using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) we measure the concentration of 70 elements in B. neritina, a sea squirt, and the sediment from the point of harvesting. This data has helped us generate an extraction process for marine natural products. Combining UV/VIS absorbance measurements with Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight-Mass Spectrometer (MALDI-TOF-MS), we demonstrated that the specific form of bryostatin extracted is a function of the solvent. A 9.4T Fourier Transform-Ion Cyclotron Resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometer, whose sensitivity, mass accuracy, and resolving power allowed the exact empirical formulas of potential precursors of bryostatin to be identified, was employed. Finally we examine extracts of 14 marine species of the Gulf of Mexico, from the sand trout (Cynoscion arenarius) to chicken liver sponge (Chrondrilla nucula), all recently collected, which had shown some medicinal activity thirty years ago in a National Cancer Institute study. By the MALDI-TOF-MS, we were able to identify mass spectral features that correspond to different variations of the basic bryostatin structure, which raises the question if the bryozoans are the original source of bryostatin.     

Adsorption states of dialkyl ditelluride autooxidized monolayers on Au(111)

Organic ditellurides (R2Te2 where R = n-butyl (C4), n-octyl (C8), and n-cetyl (C16)) were synthesized, and their adsorption states after oxidation on Au(111) surfaces were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), theoretical analyses, near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) measurements, contact angle measurements, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The obtained results show that dialkyl ditellurides form autooxidized monolayers (AMs) on the surfaces under ambient conditions and that the oxidation process is accelerated by ambient light. XPS, UPS, and theoretical analyses suggest that the autooxidized ditelluride species consist of polymers or oligomers with Te-O-Te-O network structures stabilized by oxygen bridges between tellurium molecules following the cleavage of tellurium-gold bonds. NEXAFS and contact angle measurements indicate that the average tilt angles of the alkyl chains from the surface normal are smaller for the AMs of dialkyl ditellurides having longer alkyl chains. AFM measurements show defects and roughness features around a few angstroms in height on the surfaces of the dialkyl ditelluride AMs.     

Enantio- and diastereoselective additions to aldehydes using the bifunctional reagent 2-(chloromethyl)-3-(tributylstannyl)propene: application to a synthesis of the C16-C27 segment of bryostatin 1

[reaction: see text] Reactions of the bifunctional allylstannane 2-(chloromethyl)-3-(tributylstannyl)propene with aldehydes have been examined. These generally occur in high yields using Lewis acid promoters and the products can be isolated and purified without incident. Good yields and high enantioselectivities are also realized in catalytic asymmetric allylations (CAA reactions) using the previously described BITIP catalyst system. Protection of the free hydroxyl can be accomplished without cyclization to the derived tetrahydrofuran, although this transformation is also facile. The utility of the incorporated allyl chloride functionality allows for the obvious use of such products in reactions with nucleophiles. Use of these products in a less obvious connective strategy is demonstrated in the synthesis of the C12-C27 segment of bryostatin 1 where a connective, or "lynchpin", double-allylation process was employed. The beta-hydroxy allyl chloride obtained from an initial chelation-controlled allylation of aldehyde 16 was converted to allylstannane 19 and applied in a second allylation reaction, thus allowing for a highly convergent synthesis of the bryostatin C ring backbone in a stereoselective fashion.     

Synthesis of oligomers of trans-(4S,5R)-4-carboxybenzyl 5-methyl oxazolidin-2-one: an approach to new foldamers.

The synthesis of two oligomers containing three and four residues, respectively, of trans-(4S,5R)-4-carboxy 5-methyloxazolidin-2-ones is described. The monomer is obtained by starting from benzyl-N-Boc-(3R)-aminobutanoate, by cyclization into the corresponding trans-(2S,3R)-2-carboxybenzyl-3-methyl-N-Boc-aziridine and rearrangement of the product to trans-(4S,5R)-4-carboxybenzyl-5- methyloxazolidin-2-one, catalyzed by Sn(OTf)2. The oligomers are synthesized by activating the carboxy group as its pentaflourophenyl ester. The trimer and the tetramer are obtained in good yield, and their 1H NMR spectra suggest that these molecules fold in ordered structures, where the C-4 hydrogen of a ring is always close to the carbonyl of the next ring. This result shows that the 4-carboxy-5-substituted-oxazolidin-2-ones are a new class of pseudoprolines which fully control the formation of a Xaai-1-Proi peptide bond in the trans conformation and are complementary to the pseudoprolines obtained from cyclocondensation of cysteine, serine, or threonine and aldehydes or ketones, which strongly favor the Xaai-1-Proi peptide bond in the cis conformation.     

The structure of water near platinum and its significance in water-adsorbent system: molecular dynamics study

Water structure around hydrophilic adsorbents is expected to differ from normal water structure. In some cases, a change of water structure seems to significantly affect phenomena involved in water-adsorbent systems. To investigate this, we have performed molecular dynamic simulations of three systems, water between (111) surfaces of Pt, water between (100) surfaces of Pt, and pure water at 298 K. For the analysis of water structure, we concentrated on the five-membered ring (R5) structure and six-membered ring (R6) structure, which are the most probable in nature. For both (111) and (100) of Pt, the ratio of hexameric ring/pentameric ring (R6/R5) in semibound regions was higher than that of bulk water, as expected. The function of adsorbent ceramics was explained in terms of the change of water structure when they are used as biomaterials, support materials, etc. The obscure mechanisms for the effects of medicine stones, antioxidants, etc., were also discussed from this point of view.     

Total syntheses of bryostatins: synthesis of two ring-expanded bryostatin analogues and the development of a new-generation strategy to access the C7-C27 fragment

Herein, we report the synthesis of novel ring-expanded bryostatin analogues. By carefully modifying the substrate, a selective and high-yielding Ru-catalyzed tandem enyne coupling/Michael addition was employed to construct the northern fragment. Ring-closing metathesis was utilized to form the 31-membered ring macrocycle of the analogue. These ring-expanded bryostatin analogues possess anticancer activity against several cancer cell lines. Given the difficulty in forming the C16-C17 olefin at a late stage, we also describe our development of a new-generation strategy to access the C7-C27 fragment, containing both the ring B and C subunits.     

Alkylation and acylation of cyclotriphosphazenes

Phosphazenes (RNH)6P3N3 (R = n-propyl, isobutyl, isopropyl, cyclohexyl, tert-butyl, benzyl) are readily alkylated at ring N sites by alkyl halides forming N-alkyl phosphazenium cations. Alkylation of two ring N sites occurred after prolonged heating in the presence of methyl iodide or immediately at room temperature with methyl triflate yielding N,N'-dimethyl phosphazenium dications. Geminal dichloro derivatives Cl2(RNH)4P3N3 are methylated by methyl iodide at the ring N site adjacent to both P centers carrying four RNH groups. X-ray crystal structures showed that the alkylation of ring N sites leads to substantial elongation of the associated P-N bonds. Both N-alkyl and N,N'-dialkyl phosphazenium salts form complex supramolecular networks in the solid state via NH...X interactions. Systems carrying less-bulky RNH groups show additional NH...N bonds between N-alkyl phosphazenium ions. N-Alkyl phosphazenium halides form complexes with silver ions upon treatment with silver nitrate. Depending on the steric demand of RNH substituents, either one or both of the vacant ring N sites engage in coordination to silver ions. Treatment of (RNH)6P3N3 (R = isopropyl) with acetyl chloride and benzoyl chloride, respectively, yielded N-acyl phosphazenium ions. X-ray crystal structures revealed that elongation of P-N bonds adjacent to the acylated ring N site is more pronounced than it is in the case of N-alkylated species. Salts containing N-alkyl phosphazenium ions are stable toward water and other mild nucleophiles, while N,N'-dialkyl and N-acyl phosphazenium salts are readily hydrolyzed. The reaction of (RNH)6P3N3 with bromoacetic acid led to N-alkylation at one ring N site in addition to formation of an amide via condensation of an adjacent RNH substituent with the carboxylic acid group. The resulting bromide salt contains mono cations of composition (RNH)5P3N3CH2CONR in which a CH2-C(O) unit is embedded between a ring N and an exocyclic N site of the phosphazene.     

ESR studies of vinyl polymerization. II. Initial reactions of vinyl esters with redox systems in aqueous media

ESR measurements of transient radicals during redox polymerization of various vinyl esters in aqueous solutions have been made by using the rapid-mixing flow method. The initiation was by means of hydroxyl and amino radicals from the systems titanous chloride-hydrogen peroxide and titanous chloride-hydroxylamine, respectively. The well resolved hyperfine structures obtained at monomer concentrations of about 0.05 mole/1. are unambiguously assigned to the monomer radicals formed by addition of initiator radicals to monomers. At higher monomer concentrations, additional weak signals attributed to the growing polymer radicals were observed. The effect of reaction conditions on the signal intensity has been studied in particular for vinyl acetate. The coupling constants of monomer radicals from various vinyl esters (acetate, propionate, butyrate, crotonate, and isopropenyl acetate) were obtained and the spin densities calculated. From the ESR spectra, the monomer radicals have a conformation with the substituent R (R = HO or NH₂) of R? CH₂? CH(OCOR′) locked in a position above or below the radical plane. This is tentatively interpreted as due to formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonds to ring structures or complexes with titanium ions. In addition, hydrogen abstraction reactions of some model compounds for poly(vinyl acetate) have been briefly studied in relation to chain transfer and grafting reactions.     

Instantaneous inclusion of a polynucleotide and hydrophobic guest molecules into a helical core of cationic beta-1,3-glucan polysaccharide

We succeeded in the quantitative and selective introduction of an ammonium cationic group into the C6 position of Curdlan (CUR) by "Click Chemistry", and the obtained cationic Curdlan (CUR-N+) showed good solubility in water. ORD studies suggested that CUR-N+ adopts a single-stranded structure, different from a right-handed, triple-stranded helical structure of beta-1,3-glucan polysaccharides in water. It has been revealed that the polymeric complexes of CUR-N+ with polymeric guest molecules, such as polycytidylic acid (poly(C)), permethyldecasilane (PMDS), and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), can be easily obtained by just mixing them in water with sonication. The characterization of the resultant CUR-N+-poly(C) complexes by UV-vis, CD spectroscopic measurements, and AFM and TEM observations revealed that they have stoichiometric, nanosized fibrous structures. From these experimental results as well as our precedent studies (e.g., refs 6 and 23), we propose that the complexation would be driven by the cooperative action of (1) the hydrogen-bonding interaction between the OH group at the C2 position and hydrogen-bonding sites of the cytosine ring (ref 6d), (2) the electrostatic interaction between the ammonium cation and the phosphate anion (ref 23), as well as (3) the background hydrophobic interaction. In addition, the complexed polynucleotide chain showed a strong resistance against enzymatic hydrolysis. Likewise, the dispersion of PMDS and SWNTs in water by CUR-N+ and the fibrous structures of the complexes were confirmed by spectroscopic measurements as well as microscopic observations. These binding properties of CUR-N+, which can proceed spontaneously in water, clearly differ from those of schizophyllan (SPG), which inevitably require a denature-renature process corresponding to a conversion of a triple strand to single strands induced by DMSO or base for inclusion of polymeric guest molecules.     

On the Rigidity of Polynorbornenes with Dipolar Pendant Groups

A range of polynorbornenes (PNBs) with fused dipolar pendant groups at C‐5,6 positions was synthesized by ring‐opening metathesis polymerization catalyzed by a ruthenium carbene complex (Grubbs I). Photophysical studies, EFISH measurements, and atomic force microscopy images have been used to investigate the structures and morphology of these polymers. These results suggest that the polymers may adopt rigid rod‐like structures. The presence of the double bonds in PNBs appeared to be indispensable for the rigidity of the polymers. Interaction between unsaturated pendant groups may result in coherent alignment leading to a rod‐like structure.     

bryA: an unusual modular polyketide synthase gene from the uncultivated bacterial symbiont of the marine bryozoan Bugula neritina

"Candidatus Endobugula sertula," the uncultivated bacterial symbiont of Bugula neritina, is the proposed source of the bryostatin family of anticancer compounds. We cloned a large modular polyketide synthase (PKS) gene complex from "Candidatus Endobugula sertula" and characterized one gene, bryA, which we propose is responsible for the initial steps of bryostatin biosynthesis. Typical PKS domains are present. However, acyltransferase domains are lacking in bryA, and beta-ketoacyl synthase domains of bryA cluster with those of PKSs with discrete, rather than integral, acyltransferases. We propose a model for biosynthesis of the bryostatin D-lactate starter unit by the bryA loading module, utilizing atypical domains homologous to FkbH, KR, and DH. The bryA gene product is proposed to synthesize a portion of the pharmacologically active part of bryostatin and may be useful in semisynthesis of clinically useful bryostatin analogs.     

Structures, energetics and vibrational frequency shifts of hydrated pyrimidine

More than 70 unique micro-hydrated structures of pyrimidine, ranging in size from 1 to 7 water molecules, have been characterized with the B3LYP density functional and the 6-311++G(2df,2pd) triple-ζ split-valence basis set. Explicitly correlated MP2-F12 single-point computations were performed on each structure with a correlation consistent triple-ζ basis set to estimate the relative and dissociation energies at the MP2 complete basis set (CBS) limit. Many of these new structures have significantly lower energies than those previously reported (by as much as 12.66 kcal?mol(-1)). For clusters with 1 and 2 water molecules, the MP2-F12 relative and dissociation energies are virtually identical to the corresponding CCSD(T)-F12 values. As the number of hydrating waters increases, the structures in which the water molecules are clustered together at one of the N atoms have lower energies than those where the water molecules are more distributed around the pyrimidine ring. Micro-hydrated structures that effectively extend the low-energy hydrogen-bonding motifs to both sides of the ring, as would be expected in the bulk phase, reproduce the experimentally observed vibrational frequency shifts of ν(1) and ν(8b) in very dilute aqueous pyrimidine solutions to within 1 cm(-1) . Micro-hydrated structures of pyrimidine in which water molecules are clustered together have lower energies than structures in which the water molecules are more evenly spread around the pyrimidine ring.     

A new synthetic approach to the C ring of known as well as novel bryostatin analogues

[reaction: see text] A new approach to the synthesis of the C ring subunit of known and potential bryostatin analogues is described. The convergent approach, illustrated above, requires fewer steps and offers greater flexibility in rapidly accessing diverse C ring analogues.