A convenient microwave‐enhanced solid‐phase synthesis of short chain N‐methyl‐rich peptides

Structural modification of the peptide backbone via N‐methylation is a powerful tool to modulate the pharmacokinetic profile and biological activity of peptides. Here we describe a rapid and highly efficient microwave(MW)‐assisted Fmoc/tBu solid‐phase method to prepare short chain N‐methyl‐rich peptides, using Rink amide p‐methylbenzhydrylamine (MBHA) resin as solid‐phase support. This method produces peptides in high yield and purity, and reduces the time required for Fmoc‐N‐methyl amino acid coupling. Copyright © 2010 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chiral Recognition of N‐Phthaloyl,N‐Tetrachlorophthaloyl,and N‐Naphthaloyl α‐Amino Acids and Their Esters on Polysaccharide‐Derived Chiral Stationary Phases

Enantiomeric separations of N‐phthaloyl (N‐PHT), N‐tetrachlorophthaloyl (N‐TCPHT), and N‐naphthaloyl (N‐NPHT) α‐amino acids and their esters were examined on several kinds of polysaccharide‐derived chiral stationary phases (CSPs). Resolution capability of CSPs was greater Chiralcel OF than the others for N‐PHT and N‐NPHT α‐amino acids and their esters. In N‐TCPHT α‐amino acids and their esters, good enantioselectivities showed Chiralcel OG for N‐TCPHT α‐amino acids, Chiralpak AD for N‐TCPHT α‐amino acid methyl esters, and Chiralcel OD for N‐TCPHT α‐amino acid ethyl esters, respectively. From the results of liquid chromatography and computational chemistry, it is concluded that l ‐form is preferred and more retained with electrostatic interaction in case of interaction between N‐PHT α‐amino acid derivatives and Chiralcel OF, N‐TCPHT α‐amino acid derivatives and Chiralcel OD, and N‐NPHT α‐amino acid derivatives and Chiracel OF. On the other hand, d ‐form is preferred and more retained with van der Waals interaction in case of interaction between N‐TCPHT α‐amino acid ester derivatives and Chiralcel OG and Chiralpak AD. Chirality 24:1037–1046, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Synthesis and application of Nα‐Fmoc‐Nπ‐4‐methoxybenzyloxymethylhistidine in solid phase peptide synthesis

The 4‐methoxybenzyloxymethyl (MBom) group was introduced at the N^π‐position of the histidine (His) residue by using a regioselective procedure, and its utility was examined under standard conditions used for the conventional and the microwave (MW)‐assisted solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) with 9‐fluorenylmethyoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) chemistry. The N^π‐MBom group fulfilling the requirements for the Fmoc strategy was found to prevent side‐chain‐induced racemization during incorporation of the His residue even in the case of MW‐assisted SPPS performed at a high temperature. In particular, the MBom group proved to be a suitable protecting group for the convergent synthesis because it remains attached to the imidazole ring during detachment of the protected His‐containing peptide segments from acid‐sensitive linkers by treatment with a weak acid such as 1% trifluoroacetic acid in dichloromethane. We also demonstrated the facile synthesis of Fmoc‐His(π‐MBom)‐OH with the aid of purification procedure by crystallization to effectively remove the undesired τ‐isomer without resorting to silica gel column chromatography. This means that the present synthetic procedure can be used for large‐scale production without any obstacles. Copyright © 2012 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preventing aspartimide formation in Fmoc SPPS of Asp‐Gly containing peptides — practical aspects of new trialkylcarbinol based protecting groups

In our efforts to develop a universal solution to the problem of aspartimide formation in Fmoc SPPS, we investigated the application of our new β‐trialkylmethyl protected aspartic acid building blocks to the synthesis of peptides containing the Asp‐Gly motif. The N^α‐Fmoc aspartic acid β‐tri‐(ethyl/propyl/butyl)methyl esters were used in the synthesis of the classic model peptide scorpion toxin II (VKDGYI), and their effectiveness in minimising aspartimide formation during extended piperidine treatments was evaluated. Furthermore, we compared their efficacy against that of the commonly used approach of adding acids to the Fmoc deprotection solution. Finally, we applied our aspartic acid building blocks to the stepwise Fmoc SPPS of teduglutide, a human GLP‐2 analogue, whose synthesis is made challenging by extensive aspartimide formation. In all experiments, our approach led to almost complete reduction of aspartimide formation with accompanied suppression of aspartic acid epimerisation. Copyright © 2016 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis,conformational study,and spectroscopic characterization of the cyclic Cα,α‐disubstituted glycine 9‐amino‐9‐fluorenecarboxylic acid

A series of terminally blocked peptides (to the pentamer level) from l ‐Ala and the cyclic C^α,α‐disubstituted Gly residue Afc and one Gly/Afc dipeptide have been synthesized by solution method and fully characterized. The molecular structure of the amino acid derivative Boc‐Afc‐OMe and the dipeptide Boc‐Afc‐Gly‐OMe were determined in the crystal state by X‐ray diffraction. In addition, the preferred conformation of all of the model peptides was assessed in deuterochloroform solution by FT‐IR absorption and ¹H‐NMR. The experimental data favour the conclusion that the Afc residue tends to adopt either the fully‐extended (C₅) or a folded/helical structure. In particular, the former conformation is highly populated in solution and is also that found in the crystal state in the two compounds investigated. A comparison with the structural propensities of the strictly related C^α,α‐disubstituted Gly residues Ac₅c and Dϕg is made and the implications for the use of the Afc residue in conformationally constrained analogues of bioactive peptides are briefly examined. A spectroscopic (UV absorption, fluorescence, CD) characterization of this novel aromatic C^α,α‐disubstituted Gly residue is also reported. Copyright © 1999 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Liquid and subcritical fluid chromatographic enantioseparation of Nα‐Fmoc proteinogenic amino acids on Quinidine‐based zwitterionic and anion‐exchanger type chiral stationary phases. A comparative study

Stereoselective high‐performance liquid chromatographic and subcritical fluid chromatographic separations of 19 N^α‐Fmoc proteinogenic amino acid enantiomers were carried out by using Quinidine ‐based zwitterionic and anion‐exchanger‐type chiral stationary phases Chiralpak ZWIX(−) and QD‐AX. For optimization of retention and enantioselectivity, the ratio of bulk solvent components (MeOH/MeCN, H₂O/MeOH, or CO₂/MeOH) and the nature and concentration of the acid and base additives (counter‐ and co‐ions) were systematically varied. The effect of column temperature on the enantioseparation was investigated and thermodynamic parameters were calculated from the van't Hoff plots ln α vs. 1/T. The thermodynamic parameters revealed that the enantioseparations were enthalpy‐driven. The elution sequence was determined in all cases and with the exception of Fmoc‐Cys(Trt)‐OH, it was identical on both chiral stationary phases whereby the L‐enantiomers eluted before the D‐enantiomers.     

Incorporation of N‐amidino‐pyroglutamic acid into peptides using intramolecular cyclization of α‐guanidinoglutaric acid

N‐terminal modification of peptides by unnatural amino acids significantly affects their enzymatic stability, conformational properties and biological activity. Application of N‐amidino‐amino acids, positively charged under physiological conditions, can change peptide conformation and its affinity to the corresponding receptor. In this article, we describe synthesis of short peptides, containing a new building block—N‐amidino‐pyroglutamic acid. Although direct guanidinylation of pyroglutamic acid and oxidation of N‐amidino‐proline using RuO₄ did not produce positive results, N‐amidino‐Glp‐Phe‐OH was synthesized on Wang polymer by cyclization of α‐guanidinoglutaric acid residue. In the course of synthesis, it was found that literature procedure of selective Boc deprotection using TMSOTf/TEA reagent is accompanied by concomitant side reaction of triethylamine alkylation by polymer linker fragment. It should be mentioned that independently from cyclization time and coupling agent (DIC or HCTU), the lactam formation was incomplete. Separation of the cyclic product from the linear precursor was achieved by HPLC in ammonium formate buffer at pH 6. HPLC analysis showed N‐amidino‐Glp‐Phe‐OH stability at acidic and physiological pH and fast ring opening in water solution at pH 9. The suggested method of N‐amidino‐Glp residue formation can be applied in the case of short peptide chains, whereas synthesis of longer ones will require fragment condensation approach. Copyright © 2009 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparative studies of Nsc and Fmoc as Nα‐protecting groups for SPPS

2‐(4‐Nitrophenyl)sulfonylethoxycarbonyl (Nsc) is an alternative base‐labile N^α‐protecting group to 9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) for amino acids. The UV spectrum of the Nsc group exhibits moderate absorption at 380 nm which is excellent for real‐time monitoring of the deprotection process. It also decreases the rearrangement of X‐Asp, which can be a serious problem in SPPS. Copyright © 1999 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

4‐Cyano‐α‐methyl‐l‐phenylalanine as a Spectroscopic Marker for the Investigation of PeptaibioticMembrane Interactions

Two analogs of the ten‐amino acid residue, membrane‐active lipopeptaibiotic trichogin GA IV, mono‐labeled with 4‐cyano‐α‐methyl‐L ‐phenylalanine, a potentially useful fluorescence and IR absorption probe of the local microenvironment, were synthesized by the solid‐phase methodology and conformationally characterized. The single modification was incorporated either at the N‐terminus (position 1) or near the C‐terminus (position 8) of the peptide main chain. In both cases, the replaced amino acid was the equally helicogenic α‐aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) residue. We performed a solution conformational analysis by use of FT‐IR absorption, CD, and 2D‐NMR spectroscopies. The results indicate that both labeled analogs essentially maintain the overall helical propensity of the naturally occurring lipopeptaibiotic. Peptide? membrane interactions were assessed by fluorescence and ATR‐IR absorption techniques. Analogies and differences between the two peptides were highlighted. Taken together, our data confirm literature results that some of the spectroscopic parameters of the 4‐cyanobenzyl chromophore are sensitive markers of the local microenvironment.     

Synthesis and application of N‐[1‐(4‐(4‐fluorophenyl)‐2,6‐dioxocyclohexylidene)ethyl] (Fde)‐protected amino acids for optimization of solid‐phase peptide synthesis using gel‐phase 19F NMR spectroscopy

N‐[1‐(4‐(4‐fluorophenyl)‐2,6‐dioxocyclohexylidene)ethyl] (Fde) protected amino acids have been prepared and applied in solid‐phase peptide synthesis monitored by gel‐phase ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy. The Fde protective group could be cleaved with 2% hydrazine or 5% hydroxylamine solution in DMF as determined with gel‐phase ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy. The dipeptide Ac‐L ‐Val‐L ‐Val‐NH₂ 12 was constructed using Fde‐L ‐Val‐OH and no noticeable racemization took place during the amino acid coupling with N,N′‐diisopropylcarbodiimide and 1‐hydroxy‐7‐azabenzotriazole or Fde deblocking. To extend the scope of Fde protection, the hydrophobic nonapeptide LLLLTVLTV from the signal sequence of mucin MUC1 was successfully prepared using Fde‐L ‐Leu‐OH at diagnostic positions. Copyright © 2009 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

S‐ to N‐Acyl transfer in S‐acylcysteine isopeptides via 9‐, 10‐, 12‐, and 13‐membered cyclic transition states

S‐Acyl cysteine peptides containing α‐, β‐ or γ‐amino acid residues undergo long‐range S‐ to N‐acyl transfer to give analogs of native tripeptides and tetrapeptides containing additional carbon atoms in the chain. The ease of intramolecular S → N‐acyl transfer relative to intermolecular transacylation is favored increasingly for 9 < 12 < 13 ~ 10‐membered cyclic transition states; the observed order is explained on conformational and intermolecular interaction considerations. Copyright © 2012 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Genetic manipulation of the γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) shunt in rice: overexpression of truncated glutamate decarboxylase (GAD2) and knockdown of γ‐aminobutyric acid transaminase (GABA‐T) lead to sustained and high levels of GABA accumulation in rice kernels

Gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a non‐protein amino acid commonly present in all organisms. Because cellular levels of GABA in plants are mainly regulated by synthesis (glutamate decarboxylase, GAD) and catabolism (GABA‐transaminase, GABA‐T), we attempted seed‐specific manipulation of the GABA shunt to achieve stable GABA accumulation in rice. A truncated GAD2 sequence, one of five GAD genes, controlled by the glutelin (GluB‐1) or rice embryo globulin promoters (REG) and GABA‐T‐based trigger sequences in RNA interference (RNAi) cassettes controlled by one of these promoters as well, was introduced into rice (cv. Koshihikari) to establish stable transgenic lines under herbicide selection using pyriminobac. T₁ and T₂ generations of rice lines displayed high GABA concentrations (2–100 mg/100 g grain). In analyses of two selected lines from the T₃ generation, there was a strong correlation between GABA level and the expression of truncated GAD2, whereas the inhibitory effect of GABA‐T expression was relatively weak. In these two lines both with two T‐DNA copies, their starch, amylose, and protein levels were slightly lower than non‐transformed cv. Koshihikari. Free amino acid analysis of mature kernels of these lines demonstrated elevated levels of GABA (75–350 mg/100 g polished rice) and also high levels of several amino acids, such as Ala, Ser, and Val. Because these lines of seeds could sustain their GABA content after harvest (up to 6 months), the strategy in this study could lead to the accumulation GABA and for these to be sustained in the edible parts.     

Isolation and characterization of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME)‐producing Streptomyces sp. S161 from sheep (Ovis aries) faeces

An actinomycete producing oil‐like mixtures was isolated and characterized. The strain was isolated from sheep faeces and identified as Streptomyces sp. S161 based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The strain showed cellulase and xylanase activities. The ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of the mixtures showed that the mixtures were composed of fatty acid methyl esters (52·5), triglycerides (13·7) and monoglycerides (9·1) (mol.%). Based on the gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) analysis, the fatty acid methyl esters were mainly composed of C14‐C16 long‐chain fatty acids. The results indicated that Streptomyces sp. S161 could produce fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) directly from starch. To our knowledge, this is the first isolated strain that can produce biodiesel (FAME) directly from starch.

Significance and Impact of the Study

Nowadays, production of biodiesel is based on plant oils, animal fats, algal oils and microbial oils. Lipid mostly consists of triacylglycerols (TAG), and conversion of these lipids into fatty acid short‐chain alcohol esters (methanol or ethanol) is the final step in biodiesel production. In this study, an oil‐producing Streptomyces strain was isolated from sheep faeces. The oil was composed of C₁₄‐C₁₆ long‐chain fatty acid methyl esters, triglycerides and monoglycerides. This is the first isolated strain‐producing biodiesel (FAME) directly from starch. Due to showing cellulase and xylanase activities, the strain would be helpful for converting renewable lignocellulose into biodiesel directly.     

A novel Fe(II)/α‐ketoglutarate‐dependent dioxygenase from Burkholderia ambifaria has β‐hydroxylating activity of N‐succinyl l‐leucine

An Fe(II)/α‐ketoglutarate‐dependent dioxygenase, SadA, was obtained from Burkholderia ambifaria AMMD and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. Purified recombinant SadA had catalytic activity towards several N‐substituted l‐amino acids, which was especially strong with N‐succinyl l‐leucine. With the NMR and LC‐MS analysis, SadA converted N‐succinyl l‐leucine into N‐succinyl l‐threo‐β‐hydroxyleucine with >99% diastereoselectivity. SadA is the first enzyme catalysing β‐hydroxylation of aliphatic amino acid‐related substances and a potent biocatalyst for the preparation of optically active β‐hydroxy amino acids.     

Synthesis and cytotoxicity of (R)‐ and (S)‐ricinoleic acid amides and their acetates

An environment‐friendly, free of solvent, process for the synthesis of (R )‐ and (S )‐ricinoleic acid amides has been developed. Starting from methyl ricinoleates and pyrrolidine or ethanolamine, the corresponding amides were obtained with yields ranging from 83–88%. Among 12 synthesized derivatives of ricinoleic acid, including the starting methyl esters, amides, and their acetates, nine compounds were obtained and tested for the first time. Studies on ricinoleic acid derivatives cytotoxicity showed that methyl esters were the least cytotoxic compounds and modification of their structure resulted in increasing cytotoxicity of the obtained products against both cancer cells and normal lymphocytes. Both enantiomers of the ethanolamine‐derived amides showed the most promising anticancer potential.     

Studies on the Selective Trifluoroacetolytic Scission of Native Peptaibols and Model Peptides Using HPLC and ESI‐CID‐MS

Representative members of a group of linear, N‐acylated polypeptide antibiotics (peptaibols) containing α‐aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) and, in part, isovaline (Iva), as well as proteinogenic amino acids and a C‐terminal‐bonded 2‐amino alcohol, were treated with anhydrous trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) at 37° for 0.5–26 h. The resulting fragments were separated by HPLC and characterized by electrospray ionization collision‐induced dissociation mass spectrometry (ESI‐CID‐MS). The following 16–20‐residue peptaibols were investigated: natural, microheterogeneous mixtures of antiamoebins and alamethicin F50, uniform paracelsin A, and synthetic trichotoxin A50/E. In the natural peptides, bonds formed between Aib (Iva) and Pro (Hyp) were rapidly and selectively cleaved within 0.5 h. Furthermore, TFA esters of the C‐terminal amino alcohols were formed. Depending on time, release of C‐terminal tri‐ and tetrapeptides as well as amino acids from the major fragments was observed. Synthetic homooligopeptides, namely Z‐ and Ac‐(Aib)₁₀‐O^tBu and Z‐(Aib)₇‐O^tBu, were analyzed for comparison. On treatment with TFA, a regular series of Z‐(Aib)_10–5‐OH from Z‐(Aib)₁₀‐O^tBu were detected within 0.5 h, and, after 3 h, release of a regular series of Z‐(Aib)_7–3‐OH from Z‐(Aib)₇‐O^tBu were observed. Moreover, concomitant release of the series of H‐(Aib)_10–3‐OH from the decapeptide occurred. From these data, a repetitive cleavage mechanism via intermediate formation of C‐terminal oxazolones on trifluoroacetolysis is proposed. Furthermore, their formation and stability in native peptaibols are correlated with subtle structural differences in protein amino acids linked to Aib. From the conspicuous concordance of the formation and abundance of regular series of trifluoroacetolytic fragments and of positive ions of the b‐series in CID‐MS, the generation of intermediate oxazolonium ions in both gas and liquid phase is concluded.     

Asymmetric Allylation of α‐Ketoester‐Derived N‐Benzoylhydrazones Promoted by Chiral Sulfoxides/N‐Oxides Lewis Bases: Highly Enantioselective Synthesis of Quaternary α‐Substituted α‐Allyl‐α‐Amino Acids

Chiral sulfoxides/N‐oxides (R)‐ 1 and (R,R)‐ 2 are effective chiral promoters in the enantioselective allylation of α‐keto ester N‐benzoylhydrazone derivatives 3a , 3b , 3c , 3d , 3e , 3f , 3g to generate the corresponding N‐benzoylhydrazine derivatives 4a , 4b , 4c , 4d , 4e , 4f , 4g , with enantiomeric excesses as high as 98%. Representative hydrazine derivatives 4a , 4b were subsequently treated with SmI₂, and the resulting amino esters 5a , 5b with LiOH to obtain quaternary α‐substituted α‐allyl α‐amino acids 6a , 6b , whose absolute configuration was assigned as (S), with fundament on chemical correlation and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data. Chirality 25:529–540, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Mitsunobu Alkylation of Cancerostatic 5‐Fluorouridine with (2E)‐10‐Hydroxydec‐2‐enoic Acid,a Fatty Acid from Royal Jelly with Multiple Biological Activities

5‐Fluorouridine ( 1 ) – a nucleoside antimetabolite with strong cancerostatic properties – was protected i) at the 2′‐ and 3′‐OH groups with a heptan‐4‐ylidene residue and ii) at the 5′‐OH group with a (4‐methoxyphenyl)(diphenyl)methyl residue. This fully protected compound, 3 , was submitted to a Mitsunobu reaction with the N‐hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) ester, 5 , of (2E)‐10‐hydroxydec‐2‐enoic acid ( 4 ) which gave nucleolipid 6 . The latter was detritylated with Cl₂CHCOOH to yield the co‐drug 7 as NHS ester.     

Are nociceptin(1‐13)NH2 and its structural analogue [ORN9]nociceptin(1‐13)NH2 able to affect brain antioxidant status in control and kainic acid‐treated rats?

In‐vivo effects of nociceptin (N/OFQ(1‐13)NH₂) on the levels of lipid peroxidation and cell enzyme (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase) and non‐enzyme (glutathione) antioxidants in brain of control and kainic acid‐treated rats were studied. N/OFQ(1‐13)NH₂ effects were compared with those of its structural analogue [Orn⁹]N/OFQ(1‐13)NH₂. Kainic acid (25 µg, i.c.v) increased the lipid peroxidation (4 and 24 h after kainic acid treatment) and decreased the glutathione level (1 h after kainic acid injection). We failed to find, any changes in antioxidant enzyme activities, independently of the time of kainic acid treatment. At the background of kainic acid‐effects, N/OFQ(1‐13)NH₂ and [Orn⁹] N/OFQ(1‐13)NH₂, injected 30 min before kainic acid, had no effects on all parameters, tested in brain. In addition, the neuropeptides did not change the antioxidant status in brain of control animals. It might be concluded that N/OFQ(1‐13)NH₂ and [Orn⁹]N/OFQ(1‐13)NH₂ have neither pro‐ nor anti‐oxidant activity. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.