Racemization in the Coupling Reaction,Pro-Val+Pro,with the Activated Ester Methods

The degree of racemization in the several activated ester methods of the peptide synthesis was measured in using the critical racemization test, Pro-Val+Pro, with help of gas chromatography. The results were compared with that in the coupling reaction, Leu-Phe+Val, in which no racemization had been reported in the corresponding reaction conditions by F. Weygand et al., when the activated dipeptide esters had been prepared from Z-Leu+Phe-activated esters. The significantly higher racemization was observed in the methods of N-hydroxypiperidine ester and thiophenyl ester, even when the activated dipeptide esters were prepared from Z-Pro+Val-activated esters. On the other hand, almost no racemization was observed in the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester and p-nitrophenyl ester methods. A great extent of the racemization was detected when the activated dipeptide esters were prepared directly from Z-Pro-Val-OH.     

Synthesis of some 3-hydroxynaphthalene-2-carbonylamino acid and dipeptide derivatives

Synthesis of a series of 3-hydroxynaphthalene-2-carbonylamino acid methyl esters (II-XI) and some of their corresponding hydrazides (XII-XXI), dipeptide methyl esters (XXII-XXXV) and dipeptide hydrazides (XXXVI-XXXIX) is described. 3-Hydroxynaphthalene-2-CO-L-Tyr-N2H3 (XX) and the corresponding L-Val-L-Ala-N2H3 (XXXVI) were found to be active against a number of micro-organisms.     

Cyclization-activated prodrugs. Synthesis, reactivity and toxicity of dipeptide esters of paracetamol

Dipeptide esters of paracetamol were prepared in high yields. These compounds are quantitatively hydrolyzed to paracetamol and corresponding 2,5-diketopiperazines at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C. The reactivity is increased in sarcosine and proline peptides and decreased by bulky side chains at both the N- and C-terminal residues of the dipeptide carrier. Moreover, dipeptide esters of paracetamol did not affect the levels of hepatic glutathione. Thus, dipeptides seem promising candidates as carriers for cyclization-activated prodrugs.     

Gas-chromatographic separation of stereoisomers of dipeptides

Synthetic dipeptides comprising mixtures of enantiomers, diastereomers, or sequential isomers were converted into their N-perfluoroacetyl dipeptide esters (perfluoroacetyl: trifluoroacetyl, pentafluoroacetyl, heptafluorobutyryl; ester: methyl, 1-propyl, 2-propyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) and analyzed by GC-MS on the chiral stationary phases Chirasil-L-Val and Lipodex-E using helium as carrier gas. Further, dipeptides were converted into their N-trifluoroacetyl dipeptide S-(+)-2-butyl esters and separated on achiral phenylmethyl polysiloxane column (HP-5 MS). Derivatization of dipeptides was performed at ambient temperature in order to avoid formation of the corresponding diketopiperazines. The best separation of stereoisomers was achieved with TFA and PFP methyl esters on Chirasil-L-Val.     

The use of crude lipase in deprotection of C-terminal protecting groups

A crude lipase, Newlase F, was used to remove C-terminal protecting groups from dipeptide esters. Hydrolysis of dipeptide n-heptyl esters with Newlase F was conducted in aqueous media containing acetonitrile. The optimum pH and temperature of lipase in Newlase F were 7.0 and 30 °C, respectively. Low level acetonitrile promoted the hydrolysis of dipeptide n-heptyl esters, while high level acetonitrile inhibited the hydrolysis. However, the protease activity in Newlase F was significantly inhibited by acetonitrile. Lipase in Newlase F worked better in a medium containing water-miscible organic solvents than in water-immiscible ones. N-terminal protecting groups were not affected by the protease in the crude enzyme. It was found that the protease in Newlase F did not hydrolyze amide bond with hydrophilic amino acids on either side under these conditions (pH 7.0, room temperature). Newlase F may consequently be used widely in the synthesis of peptide conjugates. The crude enzyme was immobilized on SBA-15 mesoporous molecular sieve. The lipase activity of immobilized preparation was more active on hydrolysis of C-terminal protecting groups and stable than the free enzyme. The immobilization also reduced the protease activity.     

Chiral recognition of dipeptide methyl esters by an anionic beta-cyclodextrin

Chiral recognition of dipeptide methyl esters by anionic heptakis[6-carboxymethylthio-6-deoxy]-beta-cyclodextrin (per-CO(2)(-)-beta-CD) was studied in D(2)O at pD 7.0 by means of (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The methyl esters of alanylalanine (Ala-Ala-OMe), alanylleucine (Ala-Leu-OMe), alanyltryptophan (Ala-Trp-OMe), glycyltryptophan (Gly-Trp-OMe), valyltryptophan (Val-Trp-OMe), leucyltryptophan (Leu-Trp-OMe), and tryptophylalanine (Trp-Ala-OMe) were used as the dipeptides. The binding constant (K) determined from NMR titration increases in the order Ala-Ala-OMe < Ala-Leu-OMe < Ala-Trp-OMe, suggesting that van der Waals interactions between the host and the guest participate in complexation. Coulomb interactions between the protonated dipeptide methyl esters and the anionic host seem to be another attractive force. Per-CO(2)(-)-beta-CD interacts with the (R,R)-enantiomers of the dipeptide methyl esters more strongly than the (S,S)-enantiomers. Such enantioselectivity corresponds to that for alpha-amino acid methyl esters such as Leu-OMe and Trp-OMe, whose (R)-enantiomers are the preferable guests. The enantioselectivity is mainly dominated by amino acid residue at the C-terminal and chirality at the N-terminal residue plays an assistant role. An asymmetrically twisted shape of the host cavity may be essential for chiral recognition.     

Synthesis of poly (Lys-Ser-Glu) and study of its antigenic and immunogenic properties

We have synthesized oligo- and polypeptides containing lysin, serine and glutamic acid residues. Di- and tripeptides were prepared by the successive elongation of C-terminus by means of the N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide or mixed anhydride methods. The oligopeptides were obtained by block condensation of pentafluorophenyl esters of tripeptides, and polypeptides by polycondensation of dipeptide 2,4,5-trichlorophenyl esters. The three amino acids (Lys, Ser, Glu) were shown to take part in formation of antigenic determinants, serine being probably the immunodominant amino acid, and dipeptide Ser-Glu- the most important component of the epitope Lys-Ser-Glu. Polypeptides (Lys-Ser-Glu)n induced cross-reacting or heteroclitic antibodies. The expression of immune response depended on genotype of experimental animals.     

An efficient and highly selective deprotection of N-Fmoc-alpha-amino acid and lipophilic N-Fmoc-dipeptide methyl esters with aluminium trichloride and N,N-dimethylaniline.

A novel procedure for the deprotection of the carboxyl group of amino acid methyl esters is presented. The process is carried out by the reagent system aluminium trichloride/N,N-dimethylaniline that can successfully be applied to unblock the carboxyl moiety either of N-Fmoc-protected amino acid methyl esters and N-Fmoc-protected short dipeptide methyl esters. The chiralities of the optically pure amino acid or peptide precursors are maintained totally unchanged.     

Synthesis of S-alkyl and C-terminal analogs of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae a-factor. Influence of temperature on the stability of Fmoc and OFm groups toward HF

The a-mating factor of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Tyr-Ile-Ile-Lys-Gly-Val-Phe-Trp-Asp-Pro-Ala-Cys(farnesyl)OCH3, and 10 analogs modified at the cysteine side chain and/or the terminal carboxyl were synthesized using a combination of solid phase and solution phase methodologies. The strategy of synthesis involved the condensation of an amine terminal protected decapeptide with a carboxyl terminal S-alkylated dipeptide ester or amide using benzotriazol-l-yloxy-tris(methylamino)-phosphonium hexafluorophosphate as the coupling agent. The protected decapeptide was assembled on a PAM-resin using 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) for the protection of the Tyr alpha-amine and Lys epsilon-amine and 9-fluorenylmethyl ester (OFm) for the protection of the Asp beta-carboxyl. Premature loss of the OFm group from the HF cleavage was observed at 0-2 degrees, whereas no loss occurred when the cleavage reaction was conducted at -5 degrees. In contrast to these results, the OFm group in Asp(OFm) was partially removed by HF at -5 degrees and was completely stable to HF only at -20 degrees. The S-alkylated dipeptide esters were prepared, in yields from 64% to 88%, via thioalkylation of amine protected or unprotected dipeptide esters using potassium fluoride dihydrate as the base. The use of a tertiary amine as the base of thiohexadecanylation resulted in low reactivity.     

A comparative study of warheads for design of cysteine protease inhibitors

The effects on potency of cruzain inhibition of replacing a nitrile group with alternative warheads were explored. The oxime was almost an order of magnitude more potent than the corresponding nitrile and has the potential to provide access to the prime side of the catalytic site. Dipeptide aldehydes and azadipeptide nitriles were found to be two orders of magnitude more potent cruzain inhibitors than the corresponding dipeptide nitriles although potency differences were modulated by substitution at P1 and P3. Replacement of the α methylene of a dipeptide aldehyde with cyclopropane led to a loss of potency of almost three orders of magnitude. The vinyl esters and amides that were characterized as reversible inhibitors were less potent than the corresponding nitrile by between one and two orders of magnitude.     

Effect of copper(II) chloride on suppression of racemization in peptide synthesis by the carbodiimide method.

Copper(II) chloride was found to be an extremely efficient racemization-suppressing additive in the DCC method as compared with the hitherto known ones, by employing the model coupling Z-Gly-L-Val-OH + H-L-Val-OMe in DMF. Although some other copper salts also had a profound effect, copper(II) chloride was the best from the viewpoint of both racemization suppression and coupling efficiency. The effectiveness of copper(II) chloride was further confirmed by employing the EDC-mediated couplings of Z-Gly-containing dipeptides with amino acid esters or dipeptide esters, and those of Z-L-Ala (or L-Val)-L-Val-OH with amino acid esters or dipeptide esters. In almost all the cases studied, no detectable amount (less than 0.1%) of epimer was observed by the HPLC analysis in the presence of copper(II) chloride. This was also the case even with an extremely stringent coupling system Z-L-Pro-L-Val-OH + H-L-Pro-OMe. With reference to the mechanism of racemization suppression, it was found that copper(II) chloride has a strong ability to suppress the racemization of the 5(4H)-oxazolone, which may be formed from an activated carboxyl component during the coupling.     

Macrophage esterase: identification, purification and properties of a chymotrypsin-like esterase from lung that hydrolyses and transfers nonpolar amino acid esters.

A chymotrypsin-like esterase was purified from beef lung. This lysosomal enzyme, not previously characterized, seemed to be composed of two or more forms with molecular weights of about 52 000. It hydrolysed N-benzoyl-DL-phenylalanine beta-naphthol ester at acid and neutral pH; it polymerized L-phenylalanine methyl ester(Phe-OMe) at neutral pH; and it transferred the Phe-residue from Phe-OMe to hydroxylamine at neutral pH. Phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride, an inhibitor of hydrolytic enzymes with serine in their catalytic site, inhibited this enzyme, but pepstatin, the cathepsin D (EC 3.4.4.23) inhibitor, did not. Sulfhydryl reagents were not required for activity. Macrophages, especially pulmonary alveolar macrophages, were a rich source of this esterase, so it is likely that the enzyme purified from lung came from its macrophages. The esterase hydrolysed and transferred monoamino acid esters, especially those of the aromatic type. Cathepsin C, the dipeptidyl peptide hydrolase (EC 3.4.14.1), acted only on dipeptide esters and amides. Pancreatic chymotrypsin acted on both monoamino acid and dipeptide esters. The chymotrypsin-like esterase did not hydrolyse hemoglobin, casein, or plasma albumin. Thus its proteolytic activity, if present, must be limited to specific substrates, as yet unknown.     

On the Acaciin

Synthesis of N-2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropionyl-amino acids (abbreviated as tetrafluoropropionyl- or Tfp-amino acids) by the reaction of amino acids with tetrafluoropropionyl anhydride was described, Racemization was observed to occur to a considerable extent during the process of the introduction of this group. Optically active Tfp-amino acids were able to be prepared free from racemization by transesterification of methyl tetrafluoropropionate with amino acid tert-butyl esters, followed by treatment of the resulting Tfp-amino acid tert-butyl esters with trifluoroacetic acid. Some Tfp-dipeptide esters were prepared from the corresponding dipeptide tert-butyl esters in this way. This group was cleavable by mild alkaline hydrolysis or by reduction with sodium borohydrde as well as the Tfa-group.     

Synthesis of N-carboxyalkyl and N-aminoalkyl functionalized dipeptide building units for the assembly of backbone cyclic peptides.

To improve the assembly of backbone cyclic peptides, N-functionalized dipeptide building units were synthesized. The corresponding N-aminoalkyl or N-carboxyalkyl amino acids were formed by alkylation or reductive alkylation of amino acid benzyl or tert-butyl esters. In the case of N-aminoalkyl amino acid derivatives the aldehydes for reductive alkylation were obtained from N,O-dimethyl hydroxamates of N-protected amino acids by reduction with LiAlH4. N-carboxymethyl amino acids were synthesized by alkylation using bromoacetic acid ester and the N-carboxyethyl amino acids via reductive alkylation using aldehydes derived from formyl Meldrums acid. Removal of the carboxy protecting group leads to free N-alkyl amino acids of very low solubility in organic solvents, allowing efficient purification by extraction of the crude product. These N-alkyl amino acids were converted to their tetramethylsilane-esters by silylation with N,O-bis-(trimethylsilyl)acetamide and could thus be used for the coupling with Fmoc-protected amino acid chlorides or fluorides. To avoid racemization the tert-butyl esters of N-alkyl amino acids were coupled with the Fmoc-amino acid halides in the presence of the weak base collidine. Both the N-aminoalkyl and N-carboxyalkyl functionalized dipeptide building units could be obtained in good yield and purity. For peptide assembly on the solid support, the allyl type protection of the branching moiety turned out to be most suitable. The Fmoc-protected N-functionalized dipeptide units can be used like any amino acid derivative under the standard conditions for Fmoc-solid phase synthesis.     

Inhibition of the severe acute respiratory syndrome 3CL protease by peptidomimetic alpha,beta-unsaturated esters

The proteolytic processing of polyproteins by the 3CL protease of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus is essential for the viral propagation. A series of tripeptide alpha,beta-unsaturated esters and ketomethylene isosteres, including AG7088, are synthesized and assayed to target the 3CL protease. Though AG7088 is inactive (IC50 > 100 microM), the ketomethylene isosteres and tripeptide alpha,beta-unsaturated esters containing both P1 and P2 phenylalanine residues show modest inhibitory activity (IC50 = 11-39 microM). The Phe-Phe dipeptide inhibitors 18a-e are designed on the basis of computer modeling of the enzyme-inhibitor complex. The most potent inhibitor 18c with an inhibition constant of 0.52 microM is obtained by condensation of the Phe-Phe dipeptide alpha,beta-unsaturated ester with 4-(dimethylamino)cinnamic acid. The cell-based assays also indicate that 18c is a nontoxic anti-SARS agent with an EC50 value of 0.18 microM.     

Leishmanicidal activity of amino acid and peptide esters

Amino acid and dipeptide esters kill intracellular and isolated L. amazonensis amastigotes. Several o f the compounds also restrict the growth o f mouse lesions after intralesional administration. However, the esters are known to be toxic in vitro for monocytes and certain lymphoid cells. Michel Rabinovitch surveys the mechanisms o f the leishmanicidal activity, describes some structure--activity relationships, and discusses strategies for the design of compounds more selective for the parasite.     

Characterization Of The S' Subsite Specificity Of Trypsin

The S' subsite specificity of bovine trypsin has been studied by partitioning of o-nitrophenylsulfenyl-L-arginyl-trypsin (formed using o-nitrophenylsulfenyl-L-arginine alkyl esters as acyl donors) between various amino acid-derived nucleophiles and water. The data obtained from spectrophotometric measurements confirmed a preference of trypsin for arginine residues in the P'₁-position, which is less marked but quite similar to that of chymotrypsin. The amides of leucine, phenylalanine, methionine, threonine, lysine and valine are better for synthesis than the corresponding methyl esters, and show a moderate nucleophile efficiency, decreasing in that order. Amides of acidic amino acids and D-leucine were ineffective in forming the peptide bond, whereas norvaline amide and dipeptide amides lead to increased aminolysis.     

Stereocontrolled synthesis of psi[CH = CH] dipeptide isosteres.

A new stereocontrolled synthesis of the psi[CH = CH] dipeptide isostere is described. They key step of the sequence relies on the stereospecific alpha-alkylation of delta-amino-gamma-mesyloxy-alpha,beta-unsaturated esters. The broad availability of nucleophilic alpha-side chains by this method allows the preparation of a wide variety of psi[CH = CH] isosteres with predictable stereochemistry.     

The synthesis of oligomers of oxetane-based dipeptide isosteres derived from L-rhamnose or D-xylose.

Routes to oligomers (dimers, tetramers, hexamers) of five oxetane-based dipeptide isosteres have been established. Methyl 2,4-anhydro-5-azido-5-deoxy-L-rhamnonate 'monomer' led, by coupling the corresponding carboxylic acid and amine, to a 'dimer'. Reverse-aldol ring-opening occurred on attempted saponification of the dimer, so all further oligomerization was performed using TBDMS C-3 hydroxyl protection. The silyl protected L-rhamnonate monomer led in turn to the dimer (via the monomer acid and amine), the tetramer (via the dimer acid and amine) and finally the hexamer (via the tetramer acid and dimer amine). In each case the acids were obtained through saponification of the respective methyl esters and the amines were obtained by hydrogenation of the azides; coupling was TBTU-mediated. Essentially the same strategy was employed on equivalent D-lyxonate, 6-deoxy-L-altronate, 6-deoxy-D-gulonate and D-fuconate dipeptide isosteres to give the respective dimers, tetramers and hexamers.     

Potent peptide alpha-ketohydroxamate inhibitors of recombinant human calpain I

A series of potent dipeptide and tripeptide alpha-ketohydroxamic esters was prepared as inhibitors of recombinant human calpain I. Compound 3c, a Cbz-Leu-Phe hydroxamate, displayed the greatest potency against calpain I (IC(50)=6nM), while two compounds, 3l and 3m, both possessing the Cbz-Leu-Leu-Phe sequence, were the most potent (IC(50)=0.2 microM) in a MOLT-4 cell assay.