3-Thiopropionic acid as a highly versatile multidetachable thioester resin linker

Summary This paper describes a practical new use of 3-mercaptopropionic acid as a highly versatile multidetachable linker for solid-phase synthesis. Our approach is based on the stability of the alkylthioester functionality to optimized Boc-SPPS protocols and HF treatment, as well as on the mild activation of the thioester functionality toward nucleophilic or reductive displacement. This allows several C-terminal modifications to be introduced into a synthetic molecule during the cleavage step. We have shown that unprotected peptides can be efficiently cleaved from a propyl thioester-polyethylene glycol-poly-(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) copolymer resin using a great variety of nucleophiles to give the corresponding C-terminally modified peptides (esters, thioesters, carboxylic acids, thioacids, amides, hydroxamic acids, hydrazides, alcohols). The nucleophilic cleavage reaction is both rapid and exceptionally clean in all the cases tested. Abbreviations: HBTU,N-[(1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)(dimethylamino)methylene]-N-methylmethanaminium hexafluorophosphateN-oxide); DIEA,N,N-diisopropylethylamine; DMF,N,N-dimethyl formamide; ES-MS, electrospray mass spectrometry; FAB-MS, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry; HMBA, hydroxymethylbenzoic acid; HPLC, high performance liquid chromatography; PBS: phosphate buffer saline; PEGA, polyethylene glycolpoly-(N,N-dimethylacrylamide); TFA, trifluoroacetic acid; SPPS, solid-phase peptide synthesis. Standard IUPAC single and triple letter codes for amino acids are used throughout     

Efficient solid-phase synthesis of a large peptide by a single coupling protocol with a single HPLC purification step

Summary Peptide chain assembly is now routinely performed by the use of automated synthesizers, although purification and characterization of large peptides still requires knowledge and experience. Structural biology has recently become closely involved in molecular recognition studies that often require the analysis of relatively large peptides using high-resolution NMR spectroscopy, for which synthesis of high-quality peptides in 5–10 mg amounts is of prime importance. The present study describes a solid-phase synthesis of a 7 kDa peptide related to the recently characterized ethylene-responsive element binding protein of tobacco, which is the conserved sequence among these proteins. The rapid and efficient preparation was carried out through a single coupling in combination with a single HPLC separation step. Assembly was performed in 63 h. Different coupling chemistries were employed and compared, involving benzotriazol-1-yloxy-tris(pyrrolidino)phosphonium hexafluorophosphate, 1-hydroxy-7-azabenzotriazole and/or the recently introduced reagent,N-[(dimethylamino)-1H-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-b]pyridin-1-ylmethylene]-N-methylmethanaminium hexafluorophosphateN-oxide. After each synthesis, purified material was characterized by mass spectrometry, sequencing and enzymatic mapping and shown to contain a high proportion of the desired peptide.     

Biotinylated phosphotyrosine containing peptides: A valuable tool for studies on phosphopeptide interactions with SH2 and PTB domains

Summary A series of biotinylated phosphopeptides has been synthesized and used in the development of an ELISA-based approach to assess SH2/PTB-phosphoprotein interactions in vitro in terms of affinity and specificity. Abbreviations: BSA, bovine serum albumin; DMSO, dimethylsulfoxie; EGF, epidermal growth factor; ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; HATU,N-[(dimethylamino)1H-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-b]pyridin-1-ylmethylene]-N-methylmethan-aminium hexafluorophosphateN-oxide; HPLC, high-performance liquid chromatography; GST, glutathione-S-transferase; pY, phosphotyrosine; TFA, trifluoroacetic acid; Tris, tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane; TBS-T, Tris buffered saline Tween. The abbreviations used for amino acids follow the recommendations of the IUPAC-IUB Commission of Biochemical Nomenclature [Eur. J. Biochem., 138 (1984) 9].     

Evaluation of coupling conditions for the incorporation of Nα-Fmoc-Tyr(PO3H2)-OH in solid-phase peptide synthesis

Summary In order to minimise the formation of the pyrophosphate derivative of the target peptide when side-chain-unprotected phopshotyrosine is used in solid-phase peptide synthesis, this building block can be incorporated using benzotriazolyloxy-tris-(dimethylamino)phosphonium hexafluorophosphate/1-hydroxybenzotriazole/N-methylmorpholine (1:1:2.3) in the presence of a chaotropic salt (0.4 M LiCl in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone).Abbreviations BOP benzotriazolyloxy-tris-(dimethylamino)phosphonium hexafluorophosphate - DIEA diisopropylethylamine - Fmoc 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbony - HATU N-[(dimethylamino)1H-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-b]pyridin-1-ylmethylene]-N-methylmethan-aminium hexafluorophosphate N-oxide - HOBt 1-hydroxybenzotriazole - HPLC high-performance liquid chromatography - MALDI-TOF matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry - NMM N-methylmorpholine - NMP N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone - Pmc 2,2,5,7,8-pentamethyl-chroman-6-sulfonyl - ® solid support - TFA trifluoroacetic acid - TPTU 2-(2-pyridon-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluroniumfluoroborate. Abbreviations used for amino acids follow the recommendations of the IUPAC-IUB Commission of Biochemical Nomenclature [Eur. J. Biochem., 138 (1984) 9]     

Synthesis of peptides containing α,β-didehydroamino acids. Scope and limitations

Summary α, β-Didehydroamino acids, which are key components of both natural andde novo peptides, are frequently encountered in naturally occurring peptides — mostly of microbial and fungal origin and/or from marine organisms. Herein, we report on a reappraisal of the use of the water-soluble carbodiimide/CuCl method for the preparation of this kind of peptide in both solution and solid-phase modes and describe some side reactions encountered during the process. Abbreviations: Alloc, allyloxycarbonyl; Barlos resin, 2-chlorotrityl chloride resin, Boc,tert-butoxycarbonyl; Boc₂O, di-tert-butyl dicarbonate; Bzl, benzyl; DABCO, 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane; DAST, (diethylamino)sulfur trifluoride; DBU, 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene; DDAAs, α, β-didehydroarnino acids; DEAD, diethyl azodicarboxylate; Dha, Didehydroalanine, (Z)-Dhb, Z-Didebydroaminobutyric acid; (Z)-Dhp, Z-Didehydrophenylalanine; DSC, disuccinimidyl carbonate; DDP, α, β-didehydropeptides; EDC, WSC, 3-(3′-dimethylaminopropyl)-1-ethylearbodiimide; Fmoc, fiuorenylmethoxycarbonyl; HATU, N-{(dimethylamino)-1H-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-b]pyridino-1-ylmethylene}-N-methylmethanaminium hexafluorophosphate; HOAt, 1-hydroxy-7-azabenzotriazole; (β-OH)Phe, phenylserine or β-hydroxyphenylalanine; Ph₃P, triphenylphosphine; PyAOP, (7-azabenzotriazol-1-yloxy)-tris(pyrrolidino)phosphonium hexafluorophosphate; TEA, triethylamine; TFA, trifluoroacetic acid. Amino acid symbols denote thel-configuration unless stated otherwise. All solvent ratios are volume/volume unless stated otherwise.     

Cardioinhibitory peptides from Limulus polyphemus: modulation of the neurogenic heart

Four neuropeptides have been isolated and sequenced from acetone extracts of brains of the horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus. They belong to a newly discovered peptide family in invertebrates. A possible role of the four peptides from Limulus as cardioregulatory neurotransmitters has been tested on the isolated Limulus heart. Three of the peptides (DEGHKMLYFamide, GHSLLHFamide, and PDHHMMYFamide) produce dose-dependent decreases in both amplitude and rate of the heart contractions, whereas DHGNMLYFamide reduces only the amplitude of the heartbeat. All four peptides differ in threshold, potency and duration of their effects.Abbreviations DIC diisopropylcarbodiimide - DTT dithiotreitol - Fmoc 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl - GABA gamma amino butyric acid - HOBt N-hydroxybenzotriazole - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - IBMX 3-isobutyl 1-methyl-xanthine - Lip-HP Limulus head peptide - LP Limulus peptide - TBTU 2-(1H-benzotriazole-1yl)-1,1,3,3,tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate - TFA trifluoroacetic acid - TLC thin-layer chromatography     

Preparation of O-phosphotyrosine-containing peptides by Fmoc solid-phase synthesis: Evaluation of several Fmoc-Tyr(PO3R2)-OH derivatives

Summary The synthesis of two model Tyr(P)-containing peptides using Fmoc-Tyr(PO₃ tBu₂)-OH, Fmoc-Tyr(PO₃Bzl₂)-OH and Fmoc-Tyr(PO₃H₂)-OH established that the t-butylphosphate-protected derivative was the preferred derivative for use in Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis, since it afforded phosphopeptides in high purity and with the lowest amount of Tyr-peptide contamination. In addition, this study confirmed that commercially available Fmoc-Tyr(PO₃H₂)-OH is also suitable for use in Fmoc solid-phase synthesis but gives less pure phosphopeptides, along with the generation of 1–4% of the tyrosine-containing peptide for the model sequences studied. In view of the good performance of Fmoc-Tyr(PO₃ tBu₂)-OH, a large-scale three-step synthetic procedure was developed which involved phenacyl protection of the carboxyl group, phosphite-triester phosphorylation of the tyrosyl hydroxyl using di-t-butyl N,N-diethylphosphoramidite, and final removal of the phenacyl group by zinc reduction in acetic acid.Abbreviations BOP benzotriazol-1-yl-oxy-tris(dimethylamino)phosphonium hexafluorophosphate - tBu t-butyl - Bzl benzyl - DBU 1,8-diazabicyclo[5,4,0]undec-7-ene - DMF N,N-dimethylformamide - EDT ethanedithiol - Fmoc 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl - HOBt N-hydroxybenzotriazole - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - NMM N-methylmorpholine - Pac phenacyl - TFA trifluoroacetic acid - THF tetrahydrofuran - Tyr(P) O-phosphotyrosine     

Synthesis of symmetric and asymmetric diamides of citric acid and amino acids

Summary A convenient method for the synthesis of symmetric and asymmetric diamides of amino acids including DOPA and citric acid from 2-tert-butyl-1,3-di(N-hydroxysuccinimidyl)citrate and 1-tert-butyl-2,3-di(N-hydroxysuccinimidyl)citrate is described.Abbreviations AcOtBu tert-butyl acetate - i-Bu iso-butyl - tBu tert-butyl - Bzl benzyl - p-OH-Bzl p-hydroxybenzyl - m,p-(OH)₂-Bzl m,p-dihydroxybenzyl - DCCI dicyclohexylcarbodiimide - Et ethyl - Me methyl - Su succinimidyl - SuOH N-hydroxysuccinimide - Ph phenyl     

Using cyclic peptide mixtures as probes for metal ion host-guest interactions

Summary Mixtures of cyclic peptides, formed by head-to-tail cyclizations of side-chain resin-bound linear sequences, have been prepared using solid-phase synthesis. Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry of cyclic peptides with various metal ions can reveal preferred modes of host-guest patterns, albeit in a nonquantitative manner. This approach could prove useful for more rapid screening of potential peptide ionophores. A cyclic heptapeptide with a dipeptide tail proved to be a particularly effective host for a Ca²⁺ ion; in a small three-component mixture, cyclo[Gly-Asp-d-Pro-Xxx-Asp-d-Pro-Asp(Aca-Phe-NH₂)], binding to Ca²⁺ varied from Xxx=N-MeAla>GlySar. In a 15-component mixture, cyclo[Pro-Xxx-Asn-Pro-Xxx-Asn] where Xxx=Ala, Glu, Leu, Lys or Phe, there were no significant differences with respect to binding to metal ions. We believe this to be the first reported use of cyclic peptide libraries for screening metal ions to discern host-guest relationships.Abbreviations Aca aminocaproic acid - Boc tert-butyloxycarbonyl - BOP benzotriazolyloxy-tris(dimethylamino)phosphonium hexafluorophosphate - DCM dichloromethane - DIEA diisopropylethylamine - DMF N,N-dimethylformamide - ESI electrospray ionization - FABMS fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry - pMBHA 4-methylbenzhydrylamine - TFA trifluoroacetic acid This paper is based on a presentation given at the Symposium on Peptide Structure and Design as part of the 31st Annual ACS Western Regional Meeting held in San Diego, CA, USA, October 18–21, 1995.     

Allylic protection of thiols and cysteine. III. Use of Fmoc-Cys(Fsam)-OH for solid-phase peptide synthesis

Summary The solid-phase synthesis of peptides containing Cys has been carried out using the new thiol protecting group Fsam, which is completely stable to basic and acidic conditions used in both main strategies and can be selectively removed by palladium-catalyzed allylic cleavage in the presence of nucleophiles. This protecting group adds a new dimension of orthogonality for regioselective cysteine pairing strategies. Abbreviations: Those used for amino acids and the designations of peptides follow the rules of the IUPAC-IUB Commission of Biochemical Nomenclature inJ. Biol. Chem. 1972,247, 977–983. The following additional abbreviations are used: Acm,S-acetamidomethyl; Alloc, allyloxycarbonyl; BME, β-mercaptoethanol; Boc,tert-butyloxycarbonyl; Bu, butyl;tBu,tert-butyl; Bzl, benzyl; DIEA,N,N-diisopropylethylamine; DIP-CDI,N,N′-diisopropylcarbodiimide; DMF,N,N-dimethylformamide; EtOAc, ethyl acetate; Fm, fluorenylmethyl; Fmoc, fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl; Fmoc-AM,p-[(R,S)-α-[1-(9HFluoren-9-yl)methoxyformamido]-2,4-dimethoxybenzyl]-phenoxyacetic acid; Fnam,S-[N-[2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-4-(N′-piperidino)-phenyl],N-allyloxycarbonyl]-aminomethyl Fsam,S-[N-[2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-4-(phenylthio)-phenyl],N-allyloxycarbonyl]-aminomethyl; HOAc, acetic acid; HOBt, 1-hydroxybenzotriazole; Meb,S-4-methylbenzyl; Mmt,S-4-methoxytriphenylmethyl; Mob,S-4-methoxybenzyl; NDMBA,N,N′-dimethylbarbituric acid; Npys,S-3-nitro-2-pyridinesulfenyl; OPac, phenacyl ester; PEG-PS, poly(ethyleneglycol)-polystyrene graft resin support; Ph, phenyl; Phacm,S-phenylacetamidomethyl; StBu,S-tert-butylmercapto; SPPS, solid-phase peptide synthesis; TFA, trifluoroacetic acid; THF, tetrahydrofuran; Tmob,S-2,4,6-trimethoxybenzyl; Trt,S-triphenylmethyl. Amino acid symbols denote the L-configuration unless indicated otherwise.     

Synthesis of cyclic analogues of loop 4 of nerve growth factor

Cyclic peptides cyclo(-Gly-Asp-Glu-Lys-), cyclo(-Gly-Gly-Asp-Glu-Lys-) and cyclo(-Gly-Gly-Gly-Asp-Glu-Lys-) were synthesized as models of theβ-turn of nerve growth factor loop 4. The corresponding protected linear precursors were obtained in 52–83% yields by the solid-phase method with the use of the Fmoc/Bu ^t strategy and a chlorotrityl anchor group. The cyclization was carried out with benzotriazolyloxytris(dimethylamino)phosphonium (BOP) hexafluorophosphate, N-[(1H-benzotriazole-1-yl)-(dimethylamino)methylene]-N-methylmetanaminium-N-oxide (HBTU) hexafluorophosphate, and diphenylphosphorylazide (DPPA) at a dilution of 10^?3 M. The distribution of reaction products was studied for each cyclopeptide in dependence on the type of the coupling agent. The use of DPPA was shown to completely inhibit the formation of cyclodimers in the synthesis of five-and six-membered cyclopeptides; however, in the case of a four-membered peptide, an additional tenfold dilution of the reaction mixture was necessary to achieve the effect. The identification of several byproducts during the synthesis showed that the elongation of the polypeptide chain using the BOP reagent can be complicated by substantial racemization, and the cleavage of the chlorotrityl anchor group by 0.5% TFA in dichloromethane proceeds with insufficient selectivity and is accompanied by the premature Boc deblocking of the lysine side function.     

Asialo-α1-acid glycoprotein resialylated with 9-amino-5-N-acetyl-d-neuraminic acid is resistant towards bacterial,viral and mammalian sialidases

We demonstrate that 9-amino-NeuAc transferred to asialo-₁-acid glycoprotein resists cleavage by bacterial, viral and mammalian sialidases. This is the first synthetic sialic acid analogue, which can be activated and transferred to glycoprotein, but is not a sialidase (EC 3.2.1.18) substrate.Abbreviations HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - BSA bovine serum albumin - NeuAc N-acetyl-d-neuraminic acid, 5-acetamido-3,5-dideoxy-d-glycero-d-galacto-non-2-ulosonic acid - 9-Amino-NeuAc 9-amino-5-N-acetyl-d-neuraminic acid, 5-acetamido-9-trideoxy-d-glycero-d-galacto-non-2-ulosonic acid - CMP-NeuAc cytidine-5-monophospho-N-acetyl-d-neuraminic acid - CMP-9-amino-NeuAc cytidine-5-monophospho-9-amino-5-N-acetyl-d-neuraminic acid - 9-azido-NeuAc 5-acetamido-9-azido-3,5,9-trideoxy-d-glycero-d-galacto-non-2-ulosonic acid. Enzymes EC 3.2.1.18 sialidase, acylneuraminylhydrolase - EC 2.4.99.1 Galß1-4GlcNAc a(2-6)-sialytransferase     

Syntheses of optically active 2-amino-4-oxobutyric acid and N,O-protected derivatives

Summary Strategies for the synthesis of optically active aspartaldehyde derivatives are reviewed. Most of them are using the chiral pool: allylglycine or naturally occurring homoserine, aspartic acid or methionme and side chain modifications. This will be developed in the first part. Some other original routes are also displayed in the second part. Different aspects of each strategy are discussed: the nature and number of steps, the problem of protecting groups, the price and availability of starting materials. Some synthetic applications of such interesting chiral synthons are shown in the last part.Abbreviations Ac acetyl - An Anisyl or 4-methoxy benzyl - Bn benzyl - Boc tert-butoxycarbonyl - BOP-PF₆ benzotriazol-l-yloxytris(dimethylamino)phosphonium hexafluorophosphate - Cbz benzyloxycarbonyl - DCC dicyclohexylcarbodiimide - DIBAL diisobutyl aluminum hydride - DIPEA diisopropyl ethyl amine - DMF dimethyl formamide - DMSO dimethylsulfoxide - EDCI l-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide hydrochloride - HP 4-hydroxy phenyl - MP 4-methoxy phenyl - NCS N-chlorosuccinimide - NMR nuclear magnetic resonance - PCC pyridinium chlorochromate - Pht phthaloyl - Ser serine - tBu tert-butyl - TEMPO 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl piperidine-l-oxyl - TFA trifluoro acetic acid - Trityl triphenyl methyl - Val valine This paper is dedicated to RV.     

Synthesis of mono- and disaccharide amino-acid derivatives for use in solid phase peptide synthesis

N-Fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl-protected serine and threonine derivatives, carryingO-glycosidically - or -linked peracetylated -d-Galp-(1–3)-d-GalNAcp carbohydrate chains, were prepared. These derivatives are intended for use in solid phase glycopeptide synthesis. Suitably protected mono- and disaccharide thioglycosides were used as carbohydrate intermediates. These were activated by treatment with bromine to give the glycosyl bromides, which were then used in silver triflate-promoted glycosidations ofN-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl amino-acid phenacyl esters. Removal of the phenacyl esters with zinc gave the target free acids.     

Coupling of iminodiacetic acid with amino acid derivatives in solution and solid phase

Summary The IR studies for the preactivation step of N-protected iminodiacetic acid with different coupling reagents (TCFH, TFFH, HATU, HBTU, HSTU) were reported here and showed the formation of an anhydride as an active intermediate in case of TCFH and TFFH. The formation of a mixture of an anhydride and an active ester (-OBt,-OAt or-OSu) were observed for HBTU, HATU or HSTU coupling reagent. Dependent on the coupling conditions, acylation of N-protected iminodiacetic acid with amino acid ester or amide derivatives in solution phase gave monoor di-substituted iminodiacetic acid derivatives. Coupling of N-protected iminodiacetic acid with an amino acid or peptide attached to a solid support (PAL-PEG-PS or Wang resin) gave only the monosubstituted iminodiacetic acid derivatives. Abbreviations: HBTU, N-[(1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)(dimethylamino)methylene]-N-methylmethanaminium hexafluorophosphate N-oxide; Boc,t-butyloxycarbonyl; DCC, N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide; DIC, N,N′-diisopropylcarbodiimide; DIEA, diisopropylethylamine; HATU, N-[(dimethylamino)-1H-1,2,3,-triazolo[4,5-b]pyridin-1-yl-methylene]-N-methylmethanaminium hexafluorophosphate N-oxide; DMF, N,N-dimethylformamide; Bsmoc, 1,1-dioxobenzo[b]thiophene-2-ylmethoxycarbonyl; Fmoc, 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl; HOAt, l-hydroxy-7-azabenzotriazole; HOBt, l-hydroxybenzotriazol; IDA, iminodiacetic acid; HSTU, O-(succinimidyl)-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate; TCFH; 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-2-chloroformamidinium hexafluorophosphate; TFFH, 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-2-fluoroformamidinium hexafluorophosphate; TMS-Cl, trimethylchlorosilane. Amino acids and peptides are abbreviated and designated following the rules of the IUPAC-IUB Commission of Biochemical Nomenclature (J. Biol. Chem., 247 (1972) 997).