Synthesis of Sulfonylurea Derivatives Used as Oral Antidiabetics by the Selenium-Assisted Carbonylation Using Carbon Monoxide with Sulfur

Sulfonylurea derivatives including useful antidiabetics (Tolbutamide, Chlorpropamide) were synthesized in good yields from benzene-sulfonamides with thiocarbamates in the presence of DBU. Thiocarbamates were prepared by the selenium-assisted carbonylation of primary amines with carbon monoxide, sulfur, and methyl iodide under mild conditions.     

Recyclable Siloxy Serine Organocatalyst for the Direct Asymmetric Mannich Reactions in Ionic Liquids

A recyclable siloxy-L-serine organocatalyst has been developed to catalyze the asymmetric direct three-component Mannich reactions in ionic liquid hmim[PF₆], furnishing the β-amino carbonyl scaffold in high enantio- and diastereoselectivities. The direct Mannich reaction between a selection of aromatic aldehydes and ketones resulted in good yields and high enantioselectivities.

Interaction mechanism between serine functional groups and single‐walled carbon nanotubes

The adsorption of serine (Ser) on the (8, 8) and (10, 0) single‐walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was studied by density‐functional tight‐binding calculations. For Ser, the two most stable configurations were chosen to research the interactions with the CNT. It found that the most stable Ser/(8, 8) and Ser/(10, 0) complexes have similar structures, in which the amino group, carboxyl, and side chain of serine directly interact with the CNT. The binding energies, charge transfer properties, the shortest distance (d₁) between the H atom and the corresponding benzene ring, distance (d₂) between the H atom and the center of benzene ring (HCB), and the angle (α) between the HCB line and the corresponding benzene ring plane were analyzed to explain the interactions. Because of the interaction, the ?CH of the main chain runs away from the surface of CNT, and the angles between the ?C?H bond of the main chain and the carboxyl, the amino group, and the side chain of the Ser become small. The strain energies and changes of angles and dihedral angles of the serine after adsorption were analyzed to illustrate the deformation. The interactions of Ser with the CNT were further illustrated by calculating the molecular orbitals and the partial density of states of the stable complexes. We further compared the binding energies of armchair (n, n) and zigzag (n, 0) CNTs to investigate the diameter dependence of binding energies. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Access to the Aeruginosin Serine Protease Inhibitors through the Nucleophilic Opening of an Oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane: Total Synthesis of Microcin SF608

Serine proteases play key roles in many biological processes and are associated with several human diseases such as thrombosis or cancer. During the search for selective inhibitors of serine proteases, a family of linear peptides named the aeruginosins was discovered in marine cyanobacteria. We herein report an entry route into the synthetically challenging core fragment of these natural products. Starting from the common oxabicyclic building block 11 , we accessed the octahydroindole core of the aeruginosins, exemplified by the total synthesis of microcin SF608 ( 2 ). Key to the synthetic strategy is a highly efficient nucleophilic opening of an oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane producing the hydroindole motif of microcin SF608. Moreover, during the synthetic efforts we have observed an unusual regioselective epoxide reduction. Detailed experimental studies of this reaction led us to propose a mechanistic rationale involving intramolecular hydrogen atom delivery by a carbamate NH group to control the regioselectivity of the homolytic epoxide cleavage.     

Serine‐Selective Aerobic Cleavage of Peptides and a Protein Using a Water‐Soluble Copper–Organoradical Conjugate

The site‐specific cleavage of peptide bonds is an important chemical modification of biologically relevant macromolecules. The reaction is not only used for routine structural determination of peptides, but is also a potential artificial modulator of protein function. Realizing the substrate scope beyond the conventional chemical or enzymatic cleavage of peptide bonds is, however, a formidable challenge. Here we report a serine‐selective peptide‐cleavage protocol that proceeds at room temperature and near neutral pH value, through mild aerobic oxidation promoted by a water‐soluble copper–organoradical conjugate. The method is applicable to the site‐selective cleavage of polypeptides that possess various functional groups. Peptides comprising D ‐amino acids or sensitive disulfide pairs are competent substrates. The system is extendable to the site‐selective cleavage of a native protein, ubiquitin, which comprises more than 70 amino acid residues.     

Macrocyclic Protease Inhibitors with Reduced Peptide Character

There is a real need for simple structures that define a β‐strand conformation, a secondary structure that is central to peptide–protein interactions. For example, protease substrates and inhibitors almost universally adopt this geometry on active site binding. A planar pyrrole is used to replace two amino acids of a peptide backbone to generate a simple macrocycle that retains the required geometry for active site binding. The resulting β‐strand templates have reduced peptide character and provide potent protease inhibitors with the attachment of an appropriate amino aldehyde to the C‐terminus. Picomolar inhibitors of cathepsin L and S are reported and the mode of binding of one example to the model protease chymotrypsin is defined by X‐ray crystallography.     

Discrete Hf18 Metal-oxo Cluster as a Heterogeneous Nanozyme for Site-Specific Proteolysis

The selective hydrolysis of proteins by non-enzymatic catalysis is difficult to achieve, yet it is crucial for applications in biotechnology and proteomics. Herein, we report that discrete hafnium metal-oxo cluster [Hf₁₈O₁₀(OH)₂₆(SO₄)₁₃⋅(H₂O)₃₃] ( Hf₁₈ ), which is centred by the same hexamer motif found in many MOFs, acts as a heterogeneous catalyst for the efficient hydrolysis of horse heart myoglobin (HHM) in low buffer concentrations. Among 154 amino acids present in the sequence of HHM, strictly selective cleavage at only 6 solvent accessible aspartate residues was observed. Mechanistic experiments suggest that the hydrolytic activity is likely derived from the actuation of Hf^IV Lewis acidic sites and the Brønsted acidic surface of Hf₁₈ . X-ray scattering and ESI-MS revealed that Hf₁₈ is completely insoluble in these conditions, confirming the HHM hydrolysis is caused by a heterogeneous reaction of the solid Hf₁₈ cluster, and not from smaller, soluble Hf species that could leach into solution.     

Physicochemical Properties and Elimination of the Activity of Anti-Nutritional Serine Protease Inhibitors from Mulberry Leaves

Mulberry leaf is an excellent protein resource that can be used as feed additive for livestock and poultry. Nevertheless, the use of mulberry leaves in animal diets is limited by its protease inhibitors, tannic acid and other anti-nutritional factors. This study systematically analyzed the type and activity of serine protease inhibitors (SPIs) from the leaves of 34 mulberry varieties, aiming to reveal the physicochemical properties and inactivation mechanism of SPIs. The types and activities of trypsin inhibitors (TIs) and chymotrypsin inhibitors (CIs) exhibited polymorphisms among different mulberry varieties. The highest number of types of inhibitors was detected in Jinshi, with six TIs (TI-1~TI-6) and six CIs (CI-1~CI-6). TIs and CIs exhibited strong thermal and acid–base stability. High-temperature and high-pressure treatment could reduce the activities of TIs and CIs to a certain extent. β-mercaptoethanol treatment could completely abolish TIs and CIs, suggesting that the disulfide bridges were critical for their inhibitory activities. The Maillard reaction could effectively eliminate the inhibitory activities of TI-1~TI-4 and CI-1~CI-4. This study reveals the physicochemical properties and inactivation mechanisms of the anti-nutritional SPIs from mulberry leaves, which is helpful to exploit mulberry-leaf food with low-activity SPIs, promote the development and utilization of mulberry-leaf resources in animal feed and provide reference for mulberry breeding with different functions.     

高效液相色谱法测定丝氨酸:乙醛酸转氨酶的活性

报道了一种用反相高效液相色谱法(HPLC)测定丝氨酸:乙醛酸转氨酶(SGAT,EC2.6.1.45)活性变化的有效方法。将酶初提液与含有L-丝氨酸和乙醛酸的反应体系在30 ℃下反应1 h,反应终止后进行2,4-二硝基氟苯衍生化,通过HPLC测定酶反应前后甘氨酸的衍生化产物量的变化来分析酶的活性。通过流动相组成和浓度梯度的优化,既节省了流动相的用量,也避免了气泡的产生。研究结果表明,该测定方法的准确度和灵敏度比分光光度法和纸色谱分析法高,且简便易行;对于其他转氨酶活性的测定也有一定的参考价值。