Synthesis and Macrodomain Binding of Mono‐ADP‐Ribosylated Peptides

Mono‐ADP‐ribosylation is a dynamic posttranslational modification (PTM) with important roles in signaling. Mammalian proteins that recognize or hydrolyze mono‐ADP‐ribosylated proteins have been described. We report the synthesis of ADP‐ribosylated peptides from the proteins histone H2B, RhoA and, HNP‐1. An innovative procedure was applied that makes use of pre‐phosphorylated amino acid building blocks. Binding assays revealed that the macrodomains of human MacroD2 and TARG1 exhibit distinct specificities for the different ADP‐ribosylated peptides, thus showing that the sequence surrounding ADP‐ribosylated residues affects the substrate selectivity of macrodomains.     

Chain‐Terminating and Clickable NAD+ Analogues for Labeling the Target Proteins of ADP‐Ribosyltransferases

ADP‐ribosyltransferases (ARTs) use NAD⁺ as a substrate and play important roles in numerous biological processes, such as the DNA damage response and cell cycle regulation, by transferring multiple ADP‐ribose units onto target proteins to form poly(ADP‐ribose) (PAR) chains of variable sizes. Efforts to identify direct targets of PARylation, as well as the specific ADP‐ribose acceptor sites, must all tackle the complexity of PAR. Herein, we report new NAD⁺ analogues that are efficiently processed by wild‐type ARTs and lead to chain termination owing to a lack of the required hydroxy group, thereby significantly reducing the complexity of the protein modification. Due to the presence of an alkyne group, these NAD⁺ analogues allow subsequent manipulations by click chemistry for labeling with dyes or affinity markers. This study provides insight into the substrate scope of ARTs and might pave the way for the further developments of chemical tools for investigating PAR metabolism.     

Fragmentation behavior of Amadori‐peptides obtained by non‐enzymatic glycosylation of lysine residues with ADP‐ribose in tandem mass spectrometry

Mono‐ and poly‐adenosine diphosphate (ADP)‐ribosylation are common post‐translational modifications incorporated by sequence‐specific enzymes at, predominantly, arginine, asparagine, glutamic acid or aspartic acid residues, whereas non‐enzymatic ADP‐ribosylation (glycation) modifies lysine and cysteine residues. These glycated proteins and peptides (Amadori‐compounds) are commonly found in organisms, but have so far not been investigated to any great degree. In this study, we have analyzed their fragmentation characteristics using different mass spectrometry (MS) techniques. In matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)‐MS, the ADP‐ribosyl group was cleaved, almost completely, at the pyrophosphate bond by in‐source decay. In contrast, this cleavage was very weak in electrospray ionization (ESI)‐MS. The same fragmentation site also dominated the MALDI‐PSD (post‐source decay) and ESI‐CID (collision‐induced dissociation) mass spectra. The remaining phospho‐ribosyl group (formed by the loss of adenosine monophosphate) was stable, providing a direct and reliable identification of the modification site via the b‐ and y‐ion series. Cleavage of the ADP‐ribose pyrophosphate bond under CID conditions gives access to both neutral loss (347.10 u) and precursor‐ion scans (m/z 348.08), and thereby permits the identification of ADP‐ribosylated peptides in complex mixtures with high sensitivity and specificity. With electron transfer dissociation (ETD), the ADP‐ribosyl group was stable, providing ADP‐ribosylated c‐ and z‐ions, and thus allowing reliable sequence analyses. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

BINOL Phosphoric Acid‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Mannich Reaction of Cyclic N‐Acyl Ketimines with Cyclic Enones

A highly enantio‐ and diastereoselective Mannich reaction of cyclic N‐acyl ketimines generated in situ from 3‐hydroxyisoindolin‐1‐ones with cyclic enones has been accomplished using a chiral phosphoric acid catalyst to afford the chiral isoindalinone derivatives in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities (upto 97 % ee). This is the first report on the synthesis of chiral isoindolin‐1‐ones bearing adjacent quaternary and tertiary stereogenic centers.     

A Three‐Membered Cyclic Phosphasilene

Small unsaturated phosphacycles are versatile reagents owing to their strain and the added functionality of the double bond and the phosphorus lone pair. Herein we report the synthesis and isolation of the smallest possible cyclic phosphasilene as a stable adduct with an N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC). First reactivity studies show a) that the PSi₂ ring is a competent ligand to the Fe(CO)₄ fragment via the phosphorus lone pair and b) that the abstraction of the NHC by BPh₃ results in the rapid head‐to‐head or head‐to‐tail dimerization of the PSi₂ unit. The relatively facile NHC cleavage indicates that the P=Si double bond is available for further manipulation.     

Hierarchical Self‐Assembled Photo‐Responsive Tubisomes from a Cyclic Peptide‐Bridged Amphiphilic Block Copolymer

Typically, the morphologies of the self‐assembled nanostructures from block copolymers are limited to spherical micelles, wormlike micelles and vesicles. Now, a new generation of materials with unique shape and structures, cylindrical soft matter particles (tubisomes), are obtained from the hierarchical self‐assembly of cyclic peptide‐bridged amphiphilic diblock copolymers. The capacity of obtained photo‐responsive tubisomes as potential drug carriers is evaluated. The supramolecular tubisomes pave an alternative way for fabricating polymeric tubular structures, and will expand the toolbox for the rational design of functional hierarchical nanostructures.     

Catalytic Alkylation Using a Cyclic S‐Adenosylmethionine Regeneration System

S‐Adenosylmethionine‐dependent methyltransferases are versatile tools for the specific alkylation of many compounds, such as pharmaceuticals, but their biocatalytic application is severely limited owing to the lack of a cofactor regeneration system. We report a biomimetic, polyphosphate‐based, cyclic cascade for methyltransferases. In addition to the substrate to be methylated, only methionine and polyphosphate have to be added in stoichiometric amounts. The system acts catalytically with respect to the cofactor precursor adenosine in methylation and ethylation reactions of selected substrates, as shown by HPLC analysis. Furthermore, ¹H and ¹³C NMR measurements were performed to unequivocally identify methionine as the methyl donor and to gain insight into the selectivity of the reactions. This system constitutes a vital stage in the development of economical and environmentally friendly applications of methyltransferases.     

High‐Molecular‐Weight Polycarbonates Synthesized by Enzymatic ROP of a Cyclic Carbonate as a Green Process

High‐molecular‐weight PTeMC and PHMC were prepared by the lipase‐catalyzed polymerization of butane‐1,4‐diol or hexane‐1,6‐diol and diphenyl carbonate via the formation of a cyclic dimer by a green process. Cyclic carbonate dimers were prepared by the lipase‐catalyzed condensation of diphenyl carbonate with butane‐1,4‐diol or hexane‐1,6‐diol in dilute toluene solution using an immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica, and was followed by the ring‐opening polymerization of the cyclic dimer in bulk with the same lipase to produce PTeMC with = 119 000 g · mol^?1 and PHMC with = 399 000 g · mol^?1, respectively. Additionally, enzymatic polymerization of cyclic carbonate dimer was analyzed with respect to the K_m and V_max for the lipase.

     

Dual Nickel‐ and Photoredox‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Desymmetrization of Cyclic meso‐Anhydrides

The enantioselective desymmetrization of cyclic meso‐anhydrides with benzyl trifluoroborates under nickel‐photoredox catalysis is described. The reaction tolerates a variety of sterically and electronically different trifluoroborates, as well as structurally unique cyclic anhydrides. The trans isomer of the keto‐acid products is also observed at varying levels dependent on the trifluoroborate identity and relative catalyst loading. A mechanism involving decarbonylation and Ni−C bond homolysis of a Ni^II adduct is proposed. This feature allows access to a trans keto‐acid as the major product in high enantioselectivity from a cis meso anhydride.     

Tight Xenon Confinement in a Crystalline Sandwich‐like Hydrogen‐Bonded Dimeric Capsule of a Cyclic Peptide

A cyclic hexapeptide with three pyridyl moieties connected to its backbone forms a hydrogen‐bonded dimer, which tightly encapsulates a single xenon atom, like a pearl in its shell. The dimer imprints its shape and symmetry to the captured xenon atom, as demonstrated by ¹²⁹Xe NMR spectroscopy, single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, and computational studies. The dimers self‐assemble hierarchically into tubular structures to form a porous supramolecular architecture, whose cavities are filled by small molecules and gases.     

meso‐Hydroxysubporphyrins: A Cyclic Trimeric Assembly and a Stable meso‐Oxy Radical

Treatment of meso‐chlorosubporphyrin with potassium hydroxide in DMSO followed by aqueous work up and recrystallization gave a cyclic trimer consisting of meso‐hydroxysubporphyrin units linked between the central boron atoms and meso‐hydroxy groups. Solutions of this trimer are nonfluorescent, but become fluorescent when exposed to acid or base, since hydrolytic cleavage of the axial B? O bonds generates the meso‐hydroxysubporphyrin monomer or its oxyanion. Ring cleavage of the trimer was also effected by reaction with phenylmagnesium bromide to produce meso‐hydroxy‐B‐phenyl subporphyrin, which can be quantitatively oxidized with PbO₂ to furnish a subporphyrin meso‐oxy radical as a remarkably stable species as a result of spin delocalization over almost the entire molecule.