Click chemistry to functionalise peptidomimetics

Sharpless modified Huisgen’s [2+3] cycloaddition of azide and acetylenic derivatives was employed as an efficient and simple method to conjugate azabicycloalkane amino acids, mimics of a homoSer-Pro dipeptide, with biologically relevant partners.     

Palladium-catalyzed synthesis of novel optically active tryptophan analogues

[reaction: see text] Both unsaturated proline derivatives and optically active tryptophan analogues have been obtained via Pd-catalyzed cyclization of aniline-containing acetylenic amino acids. The side chain length of the cyclization precursor determines which one of the two possible products will be formed.     

Acetylenic Esters of Polychlorobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene-5-carboxylic Acids

Acetylenic esters of polychlorobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene-5-carboxylic acids were prepared from the corresponding acid chlorides and acetylenic alcohols.     

An efficient synthetic route to glycoamino acid building blocks for glycopeptide synthesis

[reaction: see text] Chemical glycopeptide synthesis requires access to gram quantities of glycosylated amino acid building blocks. Hence, the efficiency of synthesis of such building blocks is of great importance. Here, we report a fast and highly efficient synthetic route to Fmoc-protected asparaginyl glycosides from unprotected sugars in three steps with high yields. The glycosylated amino acids were successfully incorporated into target glycopeptides 7 and 8 by standard Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis.     

252Cf plasma desorption mass spectrometric study of interactions of steroid glycosides with amino acids

252Cf Plasma desorption with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-PDMS) has been applied to comparative studies of the interactions of steroid glycosides (SGs) of the spirostan series with amino acids. SGs can interact with amino acids to form heteroclusters of the type [SG + aminoacid + H](+) and [SG + aminoacid + K](+). It is shown how the affinity of SGs for amino acids depends on the structures of both the SG carbohydrate chain and the SG aglycone, and on the nature of the amino acid side chain. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pyrolysis of Amino Acid Derived Stabilised Ylides as a Route to Chiral Acetylenic Amines and Amino Acids and Gaba Analogues

Abstract

We recently reported the pyrolysis of stabilised ylides as a method for overall conversion of carboxylic acids to homologous acetylenic esters and terminal alkynes.^1,2 This has now been applied successfully to amino acids. A wide range of alkoxycarbonyl protected amino acids have been converted to the stable crystalline ylides 1. These have been fully characterised, and upon FVP, eliminate Ph₃PO to afford the protected acetylenic amino acids 2 in good yield and without significant racemisation. Subsequent reactions of these extremely versatile intermediates have been used to gain access to a wide variety of chiral amine and amino acids of great interest as potential selective enzyme inhibitors and components for modified peptide structures.     

Biosynthesis of Biscognienyne B Involving a Cytochrome P450‐Dependent Alkynylation

The alkyne is a biologically significant moiety found in many natural products and a versatile functional group widely used in modern chemistry. Recent studies have revealed the biosynthesis of acetylenic bonds in fatty acids and amino acids. However, the molecular basis for the alkynyl moiety in acetylenic prenyl chains occurring in a number of meroterpenoids remains obscure. Here, we identify the biosynthetic gene cluster and characterize the biosynthetic pathway of an acetylenic meroterpenoid biscognienyne B based on heterologous expression, feeding experiments, and in vitro assay. This work shows that the alkyne moiety is constructed by an unprecedented cytochrome P450 enzyme BisI, which shows promiscuous activity towards C5 and C15 prenyl chains. This finding provides an opportunity for discovery of new compounds, featuring acetylenic prenyl chains, through genome mining, and it also expands the enzyme inventory for de novo biosynthesis of alkynes.     

Quantitative analysis of fluorimated ethylchloroformate derivatives of non-protein amino acids using positive and negative chemical ionization gas chromatography-mass spectometry

The GC-MS characterization of the ethylchloroformate derivatives of amino acids in an aqueous medium has been applied to non-protein amino acids. Derivatization of non-protein amino acids using ethylchloroformate, trifluoroethanol, and pyridine produced strong [M + 1]⁺ and [M - 1]⁻ ions in positive and negative chemical ionization (CI) modes, respectively. Twenty-one out of the twenty-three non-protein amino acids studied produced detectable ion chromatograms in both ionization modes when methane was used as the CI reagent gas. Mass spectra of these non-protein amino acid derivatives showed characteristic [M - 19]⁺, [M + 1]⁺, [M + 29]⁺, and [M + 41]⁺ peaks in the positive chemical ionization mode, and [M - 1]⁻, and [M + 35]⁻ peaks in the negative chemical ionization mode. The detection limits and the linear dynamic range of trifluorethanol ethylchloroformate derivatives of non-protein amino acids were studied using positive chemical ionization. The detection limits are mostly in the femtomole range.     

Biosynthesis of Biscognienyne B Involving a Cytochrome P450-Dependent Alkynylation

The alkyne is a biologically significant moiety found in many natural products and a versatile functional group widely used in modern chemistry. Recent studies have revealed the biosynthesis of acetylenic bonds in fatty acids and amino acids. However, the molecular basis for the alkynyl moiety in acetylenic prenyl chains occurring in a number of meroterpenoids remains obscure. Here, we identify the biosynthetic gene cluster and characterize the biosynthetic pathway of an acetylenic meroterpenoid biscognienyne B based on heterologous expression, feeding experiments, and in vitro assay. This work shows that the alkyne moiety is constructed by an unprecedented cytochrome P450 enzyme BisI, which shows promiscuous activity towards C5 and C15 prenyl chains. This finding provides an opportunity for discovery of new compounds, featuring acetylenic prenyl chains, through genome mining, and it also expands the enzyme inventory for de novo biosynthesis of alkynes.     

Pi-electron conjugation effects in antiaromatic dehydro[12]- and aromatic dehydro[18]-annulenes

N,N-Dimethylanilino-substituted perethynylated dehydro[12]- and dehydro[18]-annulenes were prepared by oxidative acetylenic coupling of cis-bisdeprotected tetraethynylethene derivatives obtained by a new photochemical route; they display strongly bathochromically shifted longest-wavelength absorption bands compared to their silyl-substituted counterparts resulting from efficient intramolecular charge-transfer between the peripheral pi-electron donors and the electron-accepting central acetylenic core.     

Electrochemical detection of amino acids based on cucurbit[7]uril-mediated three-dimensional gold nanoassemblies

In this paper, cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7])-mediated three-dimensional gold nanoassemblies were successfully prepared to increase the loaded amount of CB[7] and enhance the electrochemical detection of amino acids. Particle sizes of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) significantly affect stability and detection sensitivity of nanoassemblies. The volume of gold nanoassemblies first increased and then decreased with the increase of CB[7] concentration. The 3D gold nanoassemblies composed of 16 nm AuNPs and 100 µmol/L CB[7] had excellent stability and maximum volume, exhibiting more sensitive detection for a variety of amino acids. And the detection limits of aromatic amino acids are lower in virtue of the higher binding constant between aromatic amino acids and CB[7]. This study will develop and deepen our understanding of molecular recognition in amino acids detection.     

Non-covalent calixarene-amino acid complexes formed by MALDI-MS

Non-covalent inclusion complexes formed between amino acids and derivatized calix[6]arenes are observed in MALDI mass spectrometry. The methyl, ethyl, and propyl ester derivatives of calix[6]arene yielded amino acid complexes, while the smaller calix[4]arene analogs did not. Similarly the underivatized calix[6]arene and calix[4]arene did not produce complexes. Amino acid complexes were observed for nearly all 20 amino acids in time-of-flight (TOF) analysis. In Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FTMS) analysis, however, only the most basic amino acids arginine, histidine, and lysine formed stable adducts. The complexes were abundant under matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) conditions, which suggested favorable interactions between host and guest.     

Spontaneous Polymerization of An Amino Acid Based Amphiphile at Air/water Interface Investigated by ESI-MS and Transmission IR Spectrometry

Self-assemblies of amphiphilic molecules are proposed to play a ubiquitous role at the early stages of evolution in the formation of primitive biopolymers. [1] As regard to the significance of N-phosphoryl amino acids as a model for the co-evolution of protein and nucleic acids at the prebiotic stage, [2] amphiphilic N-phosphoryl amino acids with two hydrophobic tails were synthesized. [3]     

The Interaction of Thioethynyl Esters of Thiophosphoric Acids with Cytochrom P 450

Abstract

We have shown that thioesters of phosphoric acids of general formula (RO)₂P(X)C[tbnd]CR¹, were X=O or S, containing an acetylenic bond in α-position of the S-ester group has unugually high destructive effect on some isoforms of cytochrome P 450 of arthropods and mammals. These isoforms probably, participate in the process of inactivation of the acetylenic thioesters. We assume that this process may be thought as being a rupture of rhe P-S bond, which leads to the formation of killer particles - alkylthioketenes.     

Anion influence on extraction and transport of amino acid methyl esters by functionalised calix[4]arene

The liquid–liquid extraction of a series of amino acid methyl esters has been carried out with functionalised calix[4]arene (5,11,17,23-tetrakis(N-methylpiperazino)-25,26,27,28-tetrahydroxycalix[4]arene) from an aqueous phase into a chloroform phase as ion pairs in the presence of picrate ion or tropaeolin 00 as counter ion in order to study the molecular recognition properties of this receptor. The active transport assisted by pH gradient of amino acids as ion pairs through liquid membrane employing the functionalised calix[4]arene as carrier has been investigated. The results showed that the receptor exhibits good extractability towards amino acids and it can also act as carrier through liquid membrane aiming to the separation of amino acids. It was highlighted that the anion nature used as counter ion, the structure of calix[4]arene, and the structure of amino acids are responsible for the experimental results obtained. High yields in both amino acids extraction and transport were obtained for picrate ion used as counter ion.     

Expanding the genetic code

Although chemists can synthesize virtually any small organic molecule, our ability to rationally manipulate the structures of proteins is quite limited, despite their involvement in virtually every life process. For most proteins, modifications are largely restricted to substitutions among the common 20 amino acids. Herein we describe recent advances that make it possible to add new building blocks to the genetic codes of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Over 30 novel amino acids have been genetically encoded in response to unique triplet and quadruplet codons including fluorescent, photoreactive, and redox-active amino acids, glycosylated amino acids, and amino acids with keto, azido, acetylenic, and heavy-atom-containing side chains. By removing the limitations imposed by the existing 20 amino acid code, it should be possible to generate proteins and perhaps entire organisms with new or enhanced properties.     

Synthesis of dipeptides from N-hydroxy-3-azaspiro[5,5]undecane-2,4-dione activated α-amino acids

A simple two step procedure for the synthesis of a dipeptide from N-hydroxy-3-azaspiro[5,5]undecane-2,4-dione (HO-ASUD) activated α-amino acids is described. In presence of DCC, N-hydroxy-3-azaspiro[5,5]undecane-2,4-dione readily esterifies the carboxylic acid group of all the N-protected amino acids to yield crystalline N-hydroxy-3-aza spiro[5,5]undecane-2,4-dione activated carboxy ester. The N-hydroxy-3-aza spiro[5,5]undecane-2,4-dione activated carboxy esters of N-protected amino acids readily condensed with other amino acids and gave a dipeptide. This new method is effective for the DCC coupling of a variety of chiral amino acids without loss of enantiomeric purity. Synthesis of fifteen dipeptides including the hitherto unreported Fmoc-l-Orn(Boc)-Val-OMe, Fmoc-l-Cys(trt)-Gly-OEt and Boc-l-Tyr-Gly-OEt is presented.     

Expanding the Genetic Code

Although chemists can synthesize virtually any small organic molecule, our ability to rationally manipulate the structures of proteins is quite limited, despite their involvement in virtually every life process. For most proteins, modifications are largely restricted to substitutions among the common 20 amino acids. Herein we describe recent advances that make it possible to add new building blocks to the genetic codes of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Over 30 novel amino acids have been genetically encoded in response to unique triplet and quadruplet codons including fluorescent, photoreactive, and redox‐active amino acids, glycosylated amino acids, and amino acids with keto, azido, acetylenic, and heavy‐atom‐containing side chains. By removing the limitations imposed by the existing 20 amino acid code, it should be possible to generate proteins and perhaps entire organisms with new or enhanced properties.     

Calix[4]azacrowns as ionophores for liquid?Cliquid extraction and facilitated transport of biological supramolecular complexes

The native and methyl ester amino acids have been extracted by calix[4]azacrowns 1 (1,3-[ethylene-bis-aminocarbonylmethoxy)]-p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene) and 2 (1,3-[propylene-bis-aminocarbonylmethoxy)]-p-tert-butyl-calix[4]arene) from an aqueous phase into a chloroform phase and transported through a chloroform liquid membrane as ion pairs in the presence of picrate or tropaeolin 00 as counter ions aiming their separation. The amino acids under study exhibited good extractability by calix[4]azacrowns 1 and 2. Both receptors 1 and 2 showed good extractability towards amino acids under study. The results are discussed in term of correlation of structural properties of amino acids and calix[4]azacrowns involved in experiments. In this respect, the influence of chain length of receptors upon extraction and transport of amino acids, and the nature of anions used as counter ions are evaluated.     

Synthesis of novel non-natural spiro[2.3]hexane amino acids,the conformationally restricted analogs of γ-aminobutyric acid

3-Methylenecyclobutanecarboxylic acid and its methyl ester were used as the starting compounds for the synthesis of new spiro[2.3]hexane amino acids, the conformationally rigid analogs of γ-aminobutyric acid, namely, 5-aminospiro[2.3]hexanecarboxylic and 5-amino-spiro[2.3]hexanephosphonic acids, promising modulators of GABAergic cascades in the human central nervous system. The methods developed for the synthesis of the target amino acids are based on the reactions of catalytic [1+2] cycloaddition of diazoacetic and diazophosphonic esters to 3-substituted methylenecyclobutanes, as well as on a modified Curtius reaction for the transformation of a carboxy group to the amine one.