Solid-phase synthesis of DOTA-peptides

A general synthetic route to two DOTA-linked N-Fmoc amino acids (DOTA-F and DOTA-K) is described that allows insertion of DOTA at any endo-position within a peptide sequence. Three model pentapeptides were prepared to test the general utility of these derivatives in solid-phase peptide synthesis. Both DOTA derivatives reacted smoothly by means of standard HBTU activation chemistry to the point of insertion of the DOTA amino acid, but extension of the peptide chain beyond the DOTA-amino acid insertion required the use of pre-activated C-pentafluorophenyl ester N-alpha-Fmoc amino acids. Three Gal-80 binding peptides (12-mers) were then prepared by using this methodology with DOTA positioned either at the N terminus or at one of two different internal positions;the binding of the resulting GdDOTA-12-mers to Gal-80 were compared. The methodology described here allows versatile, controlled introduction of DOTA into any location within a peptide sequence. This provides a potential method for the screening of libraries of DOTA-linked peptides for optimal targeting properties.     

Solid-phase synthesis of lipidated peptides

A new flexible and efficient methodology for the solid-phase synthesis of lipidated peptides has been developed. The approach is based on the use of previously synthesized building blocks and overcomes the limitations of previously reported methods, since long doubly lipidated peptides can be synthesized by using this route. Furthermore, it was thus possible to prepare a large number of N- and H-Ras peptides bearing a wide range of reporter and/or linking groups--efficient tools for the investigation of biological processes. In terms of efficiency and flexibility this solid-phase method is superior to the solution-phase synthesis. It gives pure peptides in multimilligram amounts within a much shorter time and with superior overall yield.     

Solid-phase synthesis of transition-metal complexes

This overview highlights recent progress in the field of selective construction of linear, oligonuclear transition-metal complexes by using solid-phase synthesis procedures. Two general protocols have been identified: formation of coordinative bonds between metal centres and bridging ligands and formation of covalent bonds between preformed kinetically inert transition-metal-containing building blocks in the chain growth step. Currently available suitable building blocks for the second approach are based on ferrocene units, bis(terpyridine)-ruthenium(II) moieties or metal porphyrins.     

Solid-phase oligosaccharide synthesis of a small library of N-glycans

Solid-phase oligosaccharide synthesis is based on a hydroxymethylbenzyl benzoate spacer linker which is connected to the Merrifield resin (1 P). Glycosylation was performed with O-glycosyl trichloroacetimidates of glucosamine, mannose, and galactose permitting chain extension (2e, 5e), branching (4b, 7b, 8b), and chain termination (3t, 6t, 9t) with the use of O-benzyl, O-benzoyl, and N-dimethylmaleoyl as permanent and O-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) and O-phenoxyacetyl (PA) as temporary protecting groups. The steps required on solid phase are i) glycosylation under TMSOTf catalysis, ii) selective cleavage of the temporary protecting groups, Fmoc with NEt3 and PA with 0.5 equivalents of NaOMe in CH2Cl2/MeOH, and iii) product cleavage from the resin with 4.0 equivalents of NaOMe in CH2Cl2/MeOH and following O-acetylation for convenient product isolation. Thus a highly successful synthesis of a small library of seventeen N-glycan structures was made possible comprising the N-glycan pentasaccharide core structure 53 and two further chain extended hexa- and heptasaccharide N-glycans with a glucosamine or a lactosamine residue, respectively, which is attached to one of the mannose residues of the core structure (56 and 59).     

A Chemical Biology Approach to Understanding Molecular Recognition of Lipid II by Nisin(1–12): Synthesis and NMR Ensemble Analysis of Nisin(1–12) and Analogues

Natural products that target lipid II, such as the lantibiotic nisin, are strategically important in the development of new antibacterial agents to combat the rise of antimicrobial resistance. Understanding the structural factors that govern the highly selective molecular recognition of lipid II by the N-terminal region of nisin, nisin(1–12), is a crucial step in exploiting the potential of such compounds. In order to elucidate the relationships between amino acid sequence and conformation of this bicyclic peptide fragment, we have used solid-phase peptide synthesis to prepare two novel analogues of nisin(1–12) in which the dehydro residues have been replaced. We have carried out an NMR ensemble analysis of one of these analogues and of the wild-type nisin(1–12) peptide in order to compare the conformations of these two bicyclic peptides. Our analysis has shown the effects of residue mutation on ring conformation. We have also demonstrated that the individual rings of nisin(1–12) are pre-organised to an extent for binding to the pyrophosphate group of lipid II, with a high degree of flexibility exhibited in the central amide bond joining the two rings.     

Synthesis of functionalized rab GTPases by a combination of solution- or solid-phase lipopeptide synthesis with expressed protein ligation

Prenylated proteins with non-native functionalities are generally very difficult to obtain by recombinant or enzymatic means. The semisynthesis of preparative amounts of prenylated Rab guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) from recombinant proteins and synthetic prenylated peptides depends largely on the availability of functionalised prenylated peptides corresponding to the proteins' native structure or modifications thereof. Here, we describe and compare solution-phase and solid-phase strategies for the generation of peptides corresponding to the prenylated C terminus of Rab7 GTPase. The solid-phase with utilisation of a hydrazide linker emerges as the more favourable approach. It allows a fast and practical synthesis of pure peptides and gives a high degree of flexibility in their modification. To facilitate the analysis of semisynthetic proteins, the synthesised peptides were equipped with a fluorescent group. Using the described approach, we introduced fluorophores at several different positions of the Rab7 C terminus. The position of the incorporated fluorescent groups in the peptides did not influence the protein-ligation reaction, as the generated peptides could be ligated onto thioester-tagged Rab7. However, it was found that the positioning of the fluorescent group had an influence on the functionality of the Rab7 proteins; analysis of the interaction of the semisynthetic Rab7 proteins with REP (Rab escort protein) and GDI (guanosine diphosphate dissociation inhibitor) molecules revealed that modification of the peptide side chains or of the C-terminal isoprenoid did not significantly interfere with complex formation. However, functionalisation of the C terminus was found to have an adverse effect on complex formation and stability, possibly reflecting low structural flexibility of the Rab GDI/REP molecules in the vicinity of the lipid-binding site.     

Solid-phase synthesis and biological activity of a combinatorial cross-conjugated dienone library

The solid-phase synthesis of a combinatorial cross-conjugated dienone library based on the structure of clavulones and their biological activity are reported. Clavulones are a family of marine prostanoids, and are composed of a cross-conjugated dienone system bearing two alkyl side-chains. The cross-conjugated dienone system irreversibly reacted with two nucleophiles. Our strategy for the solid-phase synthesis of the cross-conjugated dienones involves the Sonogashira-coupling reaction of a solid-supported cyclopentenone 10 bearing an acetylene group, followed by aldol condensation with aldehydes. The diphenyl derivative 7 aA was prepared from the solid-supported cyclopentenone 10 in 56% total yield. Combinatorial synthesis of a small library using twelve halides and eight aldehydes resulted in the production of 74 desired compounds from 98 candidates, and were detected by their mass spectra. Antiproliferative effects of the crude compounds against HeLaS3 cells showed that eleven samples showed strong antitumor activity (IC50<0.05 microM). Further biological examination of four purified compounds by using five tumor cell lines (A549, HeLaS3, MCF7, TMF1, and P388) revealed strong cytotoxicity comparable to that of adriamycin.     

Solid-phase synthesis and screening of macrocyclic nucleotide-hybrid compounds targeted to hepatitis C NS5B

A convergent strategy for the synthesis of cyclic nucleotide-hybrid molecules on controlled pore glass is reported. A major advantage of the approach is the lack of restrictions on the sequence and structural variation, allowing the incorporation of modified ribonucleosides (such as 2'-OMe-ribonucleotides), as well as threoninol derivatives. This methodology allows a fully automated assembly by means of standard phosphoramidite chemistry and is based on a recently published procedure for the preparation of cyclic oligodinucleotides in the DNA series (M. Smietana, E. T. Kool, Angew. Chem. 2002, 114, 3856-3859; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 2002, 41, 3704-3707). A library of potential cyclic hybrid inhibitor compounds targeting hepatitis C virus NS5B enzyme (the replicating polymerase of HCV) was generated by means of the parallel-pool strategy. Screening of the library revealed that cyclic hybrid c(C(OME)EthenodA) was a significant inhibitor of NS5B, with an IC(50) of 40 microM. Preliminary structure-activity studies of this lead compound are described.     

Plant Antimicrobial Peptides Snakin‐1 and Snakin‐2: Chemical Synthesis and Insights into the Disulfide Connectivity

Antimicrobial peptides and proteins represent an important class of plant defensive compounds against pathogens and provide a rich source of lead compounds in the field of drug discovery. We describe the effective preparation of the cysteine‐rich snakin‐1 and ‐2 antimicrobial peptides by using a combination of solid‐phase synthesis and native chemical ligation. A subsequent cysteine/cystine mediated oxidative folding to form the six internal disulfide bonds concurrently gave the folded proteins in 40–50 % yield. By comparative evaluation of mass spectrometry, HPLC, biological data and trypsin digest mapping of folded synthetic snakin‐2 compared to natural snakin‐2, we demonstrated that synthetic snakin‐2 possesses full antifungal activity and displayed similar chromatographic behaviour to natural snakin‐2. Trypsin digest analysis allowed tentative assignment of three of the purported six disulfide bonds.     

Solid-phase synthesis of peptide and glycopeptide thioesters through side-chain-anchoring strategies

An efficient new strategy for the synthesis of peptide and glycopeptide thioesters is described. The method relies on the side-chain immobilization of a variety of Fmoc-amino acids, protected at their C-termini, on solid supports. Once anchored, peptides were constructed using solid-phase peptide synthesis according to the Fmoc protocol. After unmasking the C-terminal carboxylate, either thiols or amino acid thioesters were coupled to afford, after cleavage, peptide and glycopeptide thioesters in high yields. Using this method a significant proportion of the proteinogenic amino acids could be incorporated as C-terminal amino acid residues, therefore providing access to a large number of potential targets that can serve as acyl donors in subsequent ligation reactions. The utility of this methodology was exemplified in the synthesis of a 28 amino acid glycopeptide thioester, which was further elaborated to an N-terminal fragment of the glycoprotein erythropoietin (EPO) by native chemical ligation.