Metabolism of 2-amino-3-phosphonopropionic acid in rats

The metabolism of 2-amino-3-phosphono-[2-¹⁴C]propionic acid or 2-amino-3-phosphono-[3-¹⁴C]propionic acid in rats was studied in vivo and in vitro. The radioactivity in expired CO₂ from the [3-¹⁴C]-labelled compound indicated the cleavage of the carbon-phosphorus (C-P) bond. A small amount of the [2-¹⁴C]-labelled compound and the [3-¹⁴C]-labelled compound was incorporated into 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid, and polar lipid of the liver and kidney contained the 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid. The 2-amino-3-phosphonopropionic acid was not detected at the lipid level. Incorporation of the [3-¹⁴C]-labelled compound into a variety of metabolites including 3-phosphonopyruvic acid and 2-phosphonoacetaldehyde suggests the transamination reaction as a decomposition mechanism of 2-amino-3-phosphonopropionic acid in mammals.     

Metabolism of 2-amino-3-phosphonopropionic acid in rats.

The metabolism of 2-amino-3-phosphono-[2-(14)C]propionic acid or 2-amino-3-phosphono-[3-(14)C]propionic acid in rats was studied in vivo and in vitro. The radioactivity in expired CO2 from the [3-(14)C]-labelled compound indicated the cleavage of the carbon-phosphorus (C-P) bond. A small amount of the [2-(14)C]-labelled compound and the [3-(14C]-labelled compound was incorporated into 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid, and polar lipid of the liver and kidney contained the 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid. The 2-amino-3-phosphonopropionic acid was not detected at the lipid level. Incorporation of the [3-(14)C]-labelled compound into a variety of metabolites including 3-phosphonopyruvic acid and 2-phosphonoacetaldehyde suggests the transamination reaction as a decomposition mechanism of 2-amino-3-phosphonopropionic acid in mammals.     

Kinetics of metal ion- and pyridoxal-catalyzed transamination and dephosphonylation of 2-amino-3-phosphonopropionic acid

Transamination and dephosphonylation reactions of the Schiff bases of pyridoxal(PL) with aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMP), 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid (2-AEP), and 2-amino-3-phosphonopropionic acid (APP) were studied in the absence and in the presence of Al(III), Zn(II), and Cu(II) ions. Transamination does not occur at measureable rates for the Schiff bases of AMP- and 2-AEP, and for their metal chelates. In the case of APP Schiff bases extensive transamination followed by dephosphonylation were found to occur as successive reactions. The ketimine reaction intermediate was not formed in sufficient concentration to be detected. The formation of alanine as the final product indicates that ketimine to aldimine conversion follows the dephosphonylation step. Since the molar amount of inorganic phosphate produced is considerably greater than that of pyridoxal present, the reaction may be considered to be the conversion of APP to alanine and phosphate with pyridoxal and metal ions as catalysts. The relative catalytic activities of the metal ions is AI(III) > Cu(II) > Zn(II). A proposed mechanism for β-dephosphonylation is compared with the generally accepted mechanism of pyridoxal and metal ion-catalyzed β-decarboxylation.     

Enantioselective actions of 4-amino-3-hydroxybutanoic acid and (3-amino-2-hydroxypropyl)methylphosphinic acid at recombinant GABA(C) receptors

The R- and S-enantiomers of 4-amino-3-hydroxybutanoic acid (GABOB) were full agonists at human recombinant rho1 GABA(C) receptors. Their enantioselectivity (R>S) matched that reported for their agonist actions at GABA(B) receptors, but was the opposite to that reported at GABA(A) receptors (S>R). The corresponding methylphosphinic acid analogues proved to be rho1 GABA(C) receptor antagonists with R(+)-CGP44533 being more potent than S(-)-CGP44532, thus showing the opposite enantioselectivity to the agonists R(-)- and S(+)-GABOB. These studies highlight the different stereochemical requirements for the hydroxy group in these analogues at GABA(A), GABA(B) and GABA(C) receptors.     

Production of (R)-3-amino-3-phenylpropionic acid and (S)-3-amino-3-phenylpropionic acid from (R,S)-N-acetyl-3-amino-3-phenylpropionic acid using microorganisms having enantiomer-specific amidohydrolyzing activity

(R)-3-Amino-3-phenylpropionic acid ((R)-beta-Phe) and (S)-3-amino-3-phenylpropionic acid ((S)-beta-Phe) are key compounds on account of their use as intermediates in synthesizing pharmaceuticals. Enantiomerically pure non-natural amino acids are generally prepared by enzymatic resolution of the racemic N-acetyl form, but despite the intense efforts this method could not be used for preparing enantiomerically pure beta-Phe, because the effective enzyme had not been found. Therefore, screening for microorganisms capable of amidohydrolyzing (R,S)-N-acetyl-3-amino-3-phenylpropionic acid ((R,S)-N-Ac-beta-Phe) in an enantiomer-specific manner was performed. A microorganism having (R)-enantiomer-specific amidohydrolyzing activity and another having both (R)-enantiomer- and (S)-enantiomer-specific amidohydrolyzing activities were obtained from soil samples. Using 16S rDNA analysis, the former organism was identified as Variovorax sp., and the latter as Burkholderia sp. Using these organisms, enantiomerically pure (R)-beta-Phe (>99.5% ee) and (S)-beta-Phe (>99.5% ee) with a high molar conversion yield (67%-96%) were obtained from the racemic substrate.     

E-2(S)-amino-3-methyl-3-pentenoic acid from coniogramme intermedia

A new amino acid, E-2(S)-amino-3-methyl-3-pentenoic acid was isolated from Coniogramme intermedia. The structure was elucidated by elementary analysis, optical rotation, catalytic hydrogenation, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra.     

Ionization states of the complex formed between 2-benzyl-3-phosphonopropionic acid and carboxypeptidase A.

The binding to carboxypeptidase A of two phosphonic acid analogues of 2-benzylsuccinate, 2-DL-2-benzyl-3-phosphonopropionic acid (inhibitor I) and 2-DL-2-benzyl-3-(-O-ethylphosphono)propionic acid (inhibitor II) was studied by observing their 31P resonances when free and bound to the enzyme in the range of pH from 5 to 10. The binding of I by co-ordination to the active-site Zn(II) lowered the highest pKa of I from a value of 7.66(+/- 0.10) to a value of 6.71(+/- 0.17). No titration of any protons on II occurred over the pH range studied. The enzyme-bound inhibitor II also did not titrate over the pH range 6.17-7.60. The pH-dependencies of the apparent inhibition constants for I and II were also investigated by using N-(-2-(furanacryloyl)-L-phenylalanyl-L-phenylalanine as substrate. Two enzymic functional groups with pKa values of 5.90(+/- 0.06) and 9.79(+/- 0.14) must be protonated for binding of inhibitor I, and two groups with pKa values of 6.29(+/- 0.10) and 9.19(+/- 0.15) for binding of inhibitor II. Over the pH range from 6.71 to 7.66, inhibitor I binds to the enzyme in a complex of the enzyme in a more protonated form, and the inhibitor in a less protonated form than the predominant unligated forms at this pH. Mock & Tsay [(1986) Biochemistry 25, 2920-2927] made a similar finding for the binding of L-2-(1-carboxy-2-phenylethyl)-4-phenylazophenol over a pH range of nearly 4 units. The true inhibition constant for the dianionic form of inhibitor I (racemic) was calculated to be 54.0(+/- 5.9) nM and that of the trianionic form to be 5.92(+/- 0.65) nM. The true inhibition constant of the fully ionized II (racemic) was calculated to be 79.8(+/- 6.4) nM.     

2-amino-4-acetylaminobutyric acid, 2,4-diaminobutyric acid and 2-amino-6N-oxalylureidopropionic acid (oxalylalbizziine) in seeds of acacia angustissima

A new amino acid previously detected in 17 species of Acacia has been isolated from seeds of Acacia angustissima and identified as oxalylalbizziine. These seeds also contain more than 6% dry weight of 2-amino-4-acetylaminobutyric acid, which has not been reported previously in a legume, and lower concentrations of 2,4-diaminobutyric acid.     

Optical resolution by preferential crystallization of (2RS,3SR)-2-amino-3-chlorobutanoic acid hydrochloride

(2RS,3SR)-2-Amino-3-chlorobutanoic acid hydrochloride [(2RS,3SR)-ACB · HCl] was found to exist as a conglomerate based on the melting point, infrared spectrum, and solubility. Optical resolution by preferential crystallization of (2RS,3SR)-ACB · HCl was achieved to yield both (2R,3S)- and (2S,3R)-ACB · HCl of 80–100% optical purities. The obtained (2R,3S)- and (2S,3R)-ACB · HCl were recrystallized, taking into account the solubility of (2RS,3SR)-ACB · HCl, to give efficiently optically pure (2R,3S)- and (2S,3R)-ACB · HCl. Treatment of the purified (2R,3S)- and (2S,3R)-ACB · HCl with triethylamine gave optically pure (2R,3S)- and (2S,3R)-2-amino-3-chlorobutanoic acid, respectively. Chirality 9:656–660, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Optical resolution by preferential crystallization of (RS)-2-amino-3-chloropropanoic acid hydrochloride

The racemic structures of (RS)-2-amino-3-chloropropanoic acid [(RS)-ACP] and (RS)-2-amino-3-chloropropanoic acid hydrochloride [(RS-ACP·HCl] were examined to obtain (R)- and (S)-ACP via optical resolution by preferential crystallization. The melting point, infrared spectrum, solubility, and ternary solubility diagram suggested that (RS)-ACP·HCl exists as a conglomerate and that (RS)-ACP forms a racemic compound. Optical resolution by preferential crystallization of (RS)-ACP·HCl was successfully achieved to yield (R)- and (S)-ACP·HCl. Optically pure (R)- and (S)-ACP were obtained from the purified (R)-and (S)-ACP·HCl, respectively. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.