Natural product-like macrocyclic N-methyl-peptide inhibitors against a ubiquitin ligase uncovered from a ribosome-expressed de novo library

Naturally occurring peptides often possess macrocyclic and N-methylated backbone. These features grant them structural rigidity, high affinity to targets, proteolytic resistance, and occasionally membrane permeability. Because such peptides are produced by either nonribosomal peptide synthetases or enzymatic posttranslational modifications, it is yet a formidable challenge in degenerating sequence or length and preparing libraries for screening bioactive molecules. Here, we report a new means of synthesizing a de novo library of “natural product-like” macrocyclic N-methyl-peptides using translation machinery under the reprogrammed genetic code, which is coupled with an in vitro display technique, referred to as RaPID (random nonstandard peptides integrated discovery) system. This system allows for rapid selection of strong binders against an arbitrarily chosen therapeutic target. Here, we have demonstrated the selection of anti-E6AP macrocyclic N-methyl-peptides, one of which strongly inhibits polyubiqutination of proteins such as p53.     

Reproducibility of Programmed-Temperature Retention Indices under Average Linear Velocity Carrier Gas Control of GC and GC�CMS

Programmed-temperature retention indices (PTRIs) are useful for the identification and quantification of chemicals by means of GC and GC/MS. To obtain reproducible PTRIs, we studied the influence of average linear velocity and column length under the constant average linear velocity control (CVC) using 55 pesticides and 33 fatty acid methyl esters. The PTRIs decreased with increasing average linear velocity, and the degree of decrease differs with the compounds. The PTRIs, however, were almost constant as long as the same average linear velocity was used even if the column length was changed. In addition, the correlation between the variation ratio in PTRI and the increase in average linear velocity was linear. Using the linear relationship between PTRIs and average linear velocities under CVC, highly reproducible PTRIs were obtained even if the capillary column length changes. Furthermore, the PTRIs determined by GC with FID, ECD, and FPD under atmospheric pressure were applied to GC/MS under vacuum or vice versa. From these results, it was confirmed that because CVC provides reproducible retention indices, CVC is advantageous for qualitative and quantitative analysis by GC and GC/MS.     

Enantioselective Friedel–Crafts Alkylation Reaction of Heteroarenes with N-Unprotected Trifluoromethyl Ketimines by Means of Chiral Phosphoric Acid

An enantioselective Friedel–Crafts alkylation reaction of pyrroles and indoles with N-unprotected trifluoromethyl ketimines by use of chiral phosphoric acid provided α-trifluoromethylated primary amines bearing chiral tetrasubstituted carbon centers in high yields and with high to excellent enantioselectivities. The present reaction is unique to N-unprotected trifluoromethyl ketimines. No reaction took place with N-p-methoxyphenyl (PMP)-substituted ketimine. Corresponding α-trifluoromethylated amines were transformed without loss of enantioselectivity.     

Asymmetric total synthesis and revision of absolute configurations of azaphilone derivative felinone A

The first total synthesis of the azaphilone derivative, felinone A, was accomplished. The absolute configuration of natural felinone A was revised to be 3S, 6S, and 7R.     

Photoluminescence study of Si-doped a-plane GaN grown by MOVPE

Si-doped a-plane GaN films with different doping concentrations were grown by metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy. A mirrorlike surface without pits or anisotropic stripes was observed by optical microscopy. Detailed optical properties of the samples were characterized by temperature- and excitation-intensity-dependent PL measurements. A series of emission peaks at 3.487, 3.440, 3.375–3.350, 3.290 and 3.197 eV were observed in the low-temperature PL spectra of all samples. The origin of these emissions is discussed in detail.     

UNO DMRG CAS CI calculations of binuclear manganese complex Mn(IV)2O2(NHCHCO2)4: Scope and applicability of Heisenberg model

Both direct exchange and super-exchange interactions cooperate to realize inter-spin magnetic interaction in binuclear manganese complex Mn(IV)₂O₂(NHCHCO₂)₄ with a di-μ-oxo path. We revisited this spin system using DMRG CAS methods and CAS selection procedures. Our results indicate that our previous “dynamically extended spin polarization” (DE-SP) procedure for organic polyradicals and so forth does not work well. Thus, we have examined another selection procedure, the “dynamically extended super-exchange” (DE-SE) procedure. DMRG CASCI [18,18] by UB3LYP(HS)-UNO(DE-SE) can realize antiferromagnetic J values similar to experimental ones (−87 cm⁻¹). In addition, all J values between all spin states (HS[septet],IS[quintet],IS[triplet],LS[singlet])were also shown to be correct under sufficiently large M values. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Unprecedented Regioregular Poly(1,4‐arylene)s Prepared by Nickel(II)‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling Polymerization of 2,5‐Disubstituted Bromo(chloro)arylene

The unprecedented synthesis of regioregular head‐to‐tail‐type poly(1,4‐arylene)s bearing different substituents at the 2‐ and 5‐positions is described. They were prepared by the polymerization of 2,5‐disubstituted bromo(chloro)arylenes by selective halogen–metal exchange with a Grignard reagent and subsequent cross‐coupling polymerization with a nickel catalyst [NiCl₂(dppp)]. Formation of the regioregular poly(1,4‐arylene)s were confirmed by NMR spectroscopy, and showed remarkable differences to those polymers having uncontrolled regioregularity. Polymerization of bromo(chloro)arylenes with a chiral alkoxy substituent also led to the regioregular head‐to‐tail‐type polyarylene, which demonstrated circular dichroism, thus suggesting formation of a structure with higher‐order regularity.     

Rapid Evaluation of the Bioremediation of Fuel Oil in Soil by Gas Chromatography–Laser Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

Gas chromatography–laser ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-LI-TOFMS) was applied to the analysis of fuel oil in soil and soil treated by bioremediation. To demonstrate rapid and selective measurement, only filtered samples after extraction of fuel oil from soil were prepared. The required time for preparing three sample solutions from an oil-contaminated soil sample was only ca. 30?min. The degree of the decrease in the fuel oil in a soil sample by vaporization was confirmed by GC-LI-TOFMS, and after 7 days, the five peak areas arising from the constituents in fuel oil were decreased to between 39 and 79% of their original values. Next, the effect of bioremediation was confirmed by the addition of microbes (Rhodococcus sp. and Acinetobacter sp.). As a result, after 7 days, the five peak areas were decreased to between 61 and 81% of the values of the first decreases, after allowing for the effect of vaporization. This method showed sufficient selectivity, robustness, and rapidity for the measurement of oil-contaminated soil treated by bioremediation, which is essential for the evaluation of real environmental remediation.