The recent impact of solid-phase synthesis on medicinally relevant benzoannelated nitrogen heterocycles

Benzoannelated heterocycles such as benzodiazepines and indoles can be prepared efficiently through cyclization on solid supports, although no single approach is currently universal for the preparation of all benzoannelated N-heterocycle chemistries. In this review, a number of synthetic strategies for the generation of benzoannelated nitrogen heterocycles using resin-bound substrates have been described. Classical heterocycle forming reactions such as the Fischer indole, the Bischler-Napieralski tetrahydroisoquinoline, the Pictet-Spengler tetrahydro-beta-carboline, the Tsuge, the Nenitzescu and the Richter cinnoline reaction are presented. In addition, the Heck, Sonogashira, Wittig, Diels-Alder, and olefin metathesis reactions have been also used. Multicomponent reactions such as the Grieco three-component assembly have been exploited for the synthesis of heterocycles. Cyclative cleavage from the solid support is particularly suitable for the synthesis of heterocycles while particular emphasis has been focused on the synthesis of libraries and the use of combinatorial chemistry techniques. In addition, the most relevant pharmacological properties of benzoannelated nitrogen heterocycles are included.     

Application of olefin metathesis in the synthesis of steroids

Over the past decade, ruthenium-mediated metathesis transformations, including cross-metathesis, ring-closing metathesis, enyne metathesis, ring-opening metathesis polymerization, and also tandem processes, belong to the most intensively studied reactions. Many applications of olefin metathesis in the synthesis of natural products have been recently described. Also in the field of steroid chemistry new methods of total synthesis and hemisynthesis based on metathesis reactions have been elaborated. Various biologically active compounds, e.g. vitamin D and hormone analogues, steroid dimers and macrocycles, etc. have been prepared using a variety of olefin-metathesis protocols.     

Catalytic antibodies and biomimetics.

Of the various approaches being studied to mimic the catalytic properties of enzymes, catalytic antibody research is advancing most rapidly and successfully; the discovery of new reactions and new catalytic antibody-producing haptenic structures continues unabated. One of the highlights of the past year was the design and synthesis of a catalytically active peptide. The overall area of catalytic antibodies and biomimetics will be prominent in future biotechnological applications, as further advances are made and the nature of the catalyzed reactions becomes better understood.     

A solid-supported phosphine-free ruthenium alkylidene for olefin metathesis in methanol and water

The synthesis and olefin metathesis activity in protic solvents of 7, a phosphine-free ruthenium alkylidene bound to a hydrophilic solid support are reported. This heterogeneous catalyst promotes relatively efficient ring closing- and cross-metathesis reactions in both methanol and water. The potential utility of homogeneous catalyst 2 for olefin metathesis in methanol is also demonstrated.     

Olefin metathesis for chemical biology

Chemical biology relies on effective synthetic chemistry for building molecules to probe and modulate biological function. Olefin metathesis in organic solvents is a valuable addition to this armamentarium, and developments during the previous decade are enabling metathesis in aqueous solvents for the manipulation of biomolecules. Functional group-tolerant ruthenium metathesis catalysts modified with charged moieties or hydrophilic polymers are soluble and active in water, enabling ring-opening metathesis polymerization, cross metathesis, and ring-closing metathesis. Alternatively, conventional hydrophobic ruthenium complexes catalyze a similar array of metathesis reactions in mixtures of water and organic solvents. This strategy has enabled cross metathesis on the surface of a protein. Continuing developments in catalyst design and methodology will popularize the bioorthogonal reactivity of metathesis.     

Microwave-assisted RCM for the synthesis of carbocyclic peptides.

Microwave irradiation dramatically improves the efficiency of ring closing metathesis (RCM) reactions of resin-attached peptides and the technology is illustrated by the highly selective synthesis of dicarba analogues of alpha-conotoxin IMI.     

Synthesis of oligonucleotide derivatives using ChemMatrix supports

The synthesis of oligonucleotides on poly(ethylene glycol)-based (ChemMatrix) supports was studied. Results show that oligonucleotides can be indeed prepared in good yields using slightly modified synthesis cycles and automated DNA synthesizers. The use of these supports for the synthesis of oligonucleotide-peptide conjugates and for the ligation of oligonucleotides using Cu(+)-catalyzed cycloadition reactions is reported. Moreover, these supports can be used for the preparation of oligonucleotides in anhydrous solvents, followed by hybridization of the complementary sequences in aqueous buffers.     

Enzyme promiscuity: mechanism and applications

Introductory courses in biochemistry teach that enzymes are specific for their substrates and the reactions they catalyze. Enzymes diverging from this statement are sometimes called promiscuous. It has been suggested that relaxed substrate and reaction specificities can have an important role in enzyme evolution; however, enzyme promiscuity also has an applied aspect. Enzyme condition promiscuity has, for a long time, been used to run reactions under conditions of low water activity that favor ester synthesis instead of hydrolysis. Together with enzyme substrate promiscuity, it is exploited in numerous synthetic applications, from the laboratory to industrial scale. Furthermore, enzyme catalytic promiscuity, where enzymes catalyze accidental or induced new reactions, has begun to be recognized as a valuable research and synthesis tool. Exploiting enzyme catalytic promiscuity might lead to improvements in existing catalysts and provide novel synthesis pathways that are currently not available.     

(R)-Goniothalamin: total syntheses and cytotoxic activity against cancer cell lines

The total syntheses of (R)-goniothalamin (1), a styryl lactone isolated from several Goniothalamus species, via catalytic asymmetric allylation of alpha-benzyloxyacetaldehyde (2), followed by ring-closing metathesis and Wittig olefination and via catalytic asymmetric allylation of trans-cinnamaldehyde (12), followed by ring-closing metathesis are reported. The antiproliferative activities of (R)-1 and its Z-isomer 10 as well as of the synthetic dihydropyranone intermediates 7 and 8 against eight different cancer cell lines are also described.     

Recent advances in the stereoselective synthesis of isoprostanes and neuroprostanes

This review delineates several reported methods for the synthesis of isoprostanes and neuroprostanes with particular emphasis on the stereocontrolled construction of a suitably functionalized cyclopentane core. The alpha- and omega-side chains of these PG-like molecules are typically assembled by Wittig-type olefination reactions, standard transformations in the PG synthesis. The synthetic strategies include free radical cyclizations, a palladium-promoted coupling of three different components, an intramolecular cyclopropanation reaction-ring-opening sequence, a [2+2] photocycloaddition-ring-opening metathesis approach, and an intramolecular cross-coupling reaction of an alkyl iodide and a tethered alkenylsiloxane.     

Exploitation of carbohydrate processing enzymes in biocatalysis

Exploitation of enzymes in biocatalytic processes provides scope both in the synthesis and degradation of molecules. Enzymes have power not only in their catalytic efficiency, but their chemoselectivity, regioselectivity, and stereoselectivity means the reactions they catalyze are precise and reproducible. Focusing on carbohydrate processing enzymes, this review covers advances in biocatalysis involving carbohydrates over the last 2–3 years. Given the notorious difficulties in the chemical synthesis of carbohydrates, the use of enzymes for synthesis has potential for significant impact in the future. The use of catabolic enzymes in the degradation of biomass, which can be exploited in the production of biofuels to provide a sustainable and greener source of energy, and the synthesis of molecules that have a range of applications including in the pharmaceutical and food industries will be explored.     

Expanding the boundary of biocatalysis: design and optimization of in vitro tandem catalytic reactions for biochemical production

Biocatalysts have been increasingly used in the synthesis of fine chemicals and medicinal compounds due to significant advances in enzyme discovery and engineering. To mimic the synergistic effects of cascade reactions catalyzed by multiple enzymes in nature, researchers have been developing artificial tandem enzymatic reactions in vivo by harnessing synthetic biology and metabolic engineering tools. There is also growing interest in the development of one-pot tandem enzymatic or chemo-enzymatic processes in vitro due to their neat and concise catalytic systems and product purification procedures. In this review, we will briefly summarize the strategies of designing and optimizing in vitro tandem catalytic reactions, highlight a few representative examples, and discuss the future trend in this field.     

Prebiotic synthesis of histidyl-histidine

Summary Histidyl-histidine (His-His) has been synthesized in a yield of up to 14.4% under plausible prebiotic conditions using histidine (His), cyanamide, and 4-amino-5-imidazole carboxamide. A trace amount of His trimer was also detected. Because the imidazole group of His is involved in a number of important enzymatic reactions, and His-His has been shown to catalyze the prebiotic synthesis of glycyl-glycine, we expect this work will stimulate further studies on the catalytic activities of simple His-containing peptides in prebiotic reactions.     

Chiral Symmetry Breaking in Large Peptide Systems

Chiral symmetry breaking in far from equilibrium systems with large number of amino acids and peptides, like a prebiotic Earth, was considered. It was shown that if organic catalysts were abundant, then effective averaging of enantioselectivity would prohibit any symmetry breaking in such systems. It was further argued that non-linear (catalytic) reactions must be very scarce (called the abundance parameter) and catalysts should work on small groups of similar reactions (called the similarity parameter) in order to chiral symmetry breaking have a chance to occur. Models with 20 amino acids and peptide lengths up to three were considered. It was shown that there are preferred ranges of abundance and similarity parameters where the symmetry breaking can occur in the models with catalytic synthesis / catalytic destruction / both catalytic synthesis and catalytic destruction. It was further shown that models with catalytic synthesis and catalytic destruction statistically result in a substantially higher percentage of the models where the symmetry breaking can occur in comparison to the models with just catalytic synthesis or catalytic destruction. It was also shown that when chiral symmetry breaking occurs, then concentrations of some amino acids, which collectively have some mutually beneficial properties, go up, whereas the concentrations of the ones, which don’t have such properties, go down. An open source code of the whole system was provided to ensure that the results can be checked, repeated, and extended further if needed.

     

Ribozyme-catalyzed tRNA aminoacylation

The RNA world hypothesis implies that coded protein synthesis evolved from a set of ribozyme catalyzed acyl-transfer reactions, including those of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase ribozymes. We report here that a bifunctional ribozyme generated by directed in vitro evolution can specifically recognize an activated glutaminyl ester and aminoacylate a targeted tRNA, via a covalent aminoacyl-ribozyme intermediate. The ribozyme consists of two distinct catalytic domains; one domain recognizes the glutamine substrate and self-aminoacylates its own 5'-hydroxyl group, and the other recognizes the tRNA and transfers the aminoacyl group to the 3'-end. The interaction of these domains results in a unique pseudoknotted structure, and the ribozyme requires a change in conformation to perform the sequential aminoacylation reactions. Our result supports the idea that aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase ribozymes could have played a key role in the evolution of the genetic code and RNA-directed translation.     

DNA display III. Solid-phase organic synthesis on unprotected DNA

DNA-directed synthesis represents a powerful new tool for molecular discovery. Its ultimate utility, however, hinges upon the diversity of chemical reactions that can be executed in the presence of unprotected DNA. We present a solid-phase reaction format that makes possible the use of standard organic reaction conditions and common reagents to facilitate chemical transformations on unprotected DNA supports. We demonstrate the feasibility of this strategy by comprehensively adapting solid-phase 9-fluorenylmethyoxycarbonyl–based peptide synthesis to be DNA-compatible, and we describe a set of tools for the adaptation of other chemistries. Efficient peptide coupling to DNA was observed for all 33 amino acids tested, and polypeptides as long as 12 amino acids were synthesized on DNA supports. Beyond the direct implications for synthesis of peptide–DNA conjugates, the methods described offer a general strategy for organic synthesis on unprotected DNA. Their employment can facilitate the generation of chemically diverse DNA-encoded molecular populations amenable to in vitro evolution and genetic manipulation.     

Crystal structure of firefly luciferase in a second catalytic conformation supports a domain alternation mechanism

Beetle luciferases catalyze a two-step reaction that includes the initial adenylation of the luciferin substrate, followed by an oxidative decarboxylation that ultimately produces light. Evidence for homologous acyl-CoA synthetases supports a domain alternation catalytic mechanism in which these enzymes' C-terminal domain rotates by ～140° to adopt two conformations that are used to catalyze the two partial reactions. While many structures exist of acyl-CoA synthetases in both conformations, to date only biochemical evidence supports domain alternation with luciferase. We have determined the structure of a cross-linked luciferase enzyme that is trapped in the second conformation. This new structure supports the role of the second catalytic conformation and provides insights into the biochemical mechanism of the luciferase oxidative step.     

Rates of various reactions catalyzed by ATP synthase as related to the mechanism of ATP synthesis.

The forward and reverse rates of the overall reaction catalyzed by the ATP synthase in intact rat heart mitochondria, as measured with 32P, were compared with the rates of two partial steps, as measured with 18O. Such rates have been measured previously, but their relationship to one another has not been determined, nor have the partial reactions been measured in intact mitochondria. The partial steps measured were the rate of medium Pi formation from bound ATP (in state 4 this also equals the rate of medium Pi into bound ATP) and the rate of formation of bound ATP from bound Pi within the catalytic site. The rates of both partial reactions can be measured by 31P NMR analysis of the 18O distribution in Pi and ATP released from the enzyme during incubation of intact mitochondria with highly labeled [18O]Pi. Data were obtained in state 3 and 4 conditions with variation in substrate concentrations, temperature, and mitochondrial membrane electrical potential gradient (delta psi m). Although neither binding nor release of ATP is necessary for phosphate/H2O exchange, in state 4 the rate of incorporation of at least one water oxygen atom into phosphate is approximately twice the rate of the overall reaction rate under a variety of conditions. This can be explained if the release of Pi or ATP at one catalytic site does not occur, unless ATP or Pi is bound at another catalytic site. Such coupling provides strong support for the previously proposed alternating site mechanism. In state 3 slow reversal of ATP synthesis occurs within the mitochondrial matrix and can be detected as incorporation of water oxygen atoms into medium Pi even though medium [32P]ATP does not give rise to 32Pi in state 3. These data can be explained by lack of translocation of ATP from the medium to the mitochondrial matrix. The rate of bound ATP formation from bound Pi at catalytic sites was over twice the rate of the overall reaction in both states 4 and 3. The rate of reaction at the catalytic site is considerably less sensitive to the decrease in membrane potential and the concentration of medium ADP than is the rate of medium ATP formation. This supports the view that the active catalytic site is occluded and proceeds at a rapid rate which is relatively independent of delta psi m and of media substrates.     

Systematic comparison of catalytic mechanisms of hydrolysis and transfer reactions classified in the EzCatDB database

Catalytic mechanisms of 270 enzymes from 131 superfamilies, mainly hydrolases and transferases, were analyzed based on their enzyme structures. A method of systematic comparison and classification of the catalytic reactions was developed. Hydrolysis and transfer reactions closely resemble one another, displaying common mechanisms, single displacement, and double displacement. These displacement mechanisms might be further subclassified according to the type of catalytic factors and nucleophilic substitution involved. Several types of catalytic factors exist: nucleophile, acid, base, stabilizer, modulator, cofactors. Nucleophilic substitution might be categorized as S(N)1/S(N)2 (or dissociative/associative) reactions. The classification indicates that some mechanisms favor particular types of catalytic factors. In hydrolyses of amide bonds and phosphoric ester bonds, mechanisms with single displacement tend to use inorganic cofactors such as zinc and magnesium ions as important catalysts, whereas those with double displacement frequently do not use such cofactors. In contrast, hydrolyses of O-glycoside bond rarely use such cofactors, with one exception. The trypsin-like hydrolytic reaction, which is catalyzed by the classic catalytic triad comprising serine/histidine/aspartate, can be considered as a "super-reaction" because it is observed in at least three nonhomologous enzymes, whereas most reactions are singlets without any nonhomologous enzymes. By dividing complex reactions into several reactions, correlations between active site structures and catalytic functions can be suggested. This classification method is applicable to other reactions such as elimination and isomerization. Furthermore, it will facilitate annotation of enzyme functions from 3D patterns of enzyme active sites. The classification is available at http://mbs.cbrc.jp/EzCatDB/RLCP/index.html.