Synthesis of Quinazoline C-Nucleosides: A New Class of 6:6 Bicyclic Purine-Like Analogues.1

Abstract

The quinazoline C-nucleoside congeners of adenosine (1) and inosine (2) have been obtained by radical-induced addition of 4-bromobutyronitrile to C-ribosyl acrylonitrile 10. A base-catalyzed Ziegler-Thorpe cyclization of the dinitrile thus obtained (11) followed by aromatization with DDQ afforded key intermediate 6-ribosylated anthranilonitrile 14 and its α-isomer. Annulation of a pyrimidine ring onto 14 or onto the corresponding o-amino-amide followed by deblocking with MeOH/HCl finally gave 1 or 2 respectively.     

C-Glycosylation of Substituted Heterocycles Under Friedel-Crafts Conditions (II): Ribosylation of Multi-Functionalized Thiophenes and Furans for the Synthesis of Purine-Like C-Nucleosides

Abstract

In our continuing studies of the Friedel-Crafts glycosylation of preformed heterocycles, we have observed that while the SnCl₄ catalyzed glycosylation of methyl 4-(formylamino)thiophene-3-carboxylate (5) gives readily the C-nucleosides 7b and 7a, the corresponding Et₂AlCl catalyzed reaction gives exclusively the N-nucleoside 11. These nucleosides can be further elaborated into the bicyclic thieno[3,4-d]-pyrimidine system. Similarly, methyl 4-(formylamino)furan-3-carboxylate (19) gave the expected C-nucleosides 2Ob and 2Oa upon glycosylation in the presence of SnCl₄. However, these nucleosides could not be converted into the furo[3,4-d]pyrimidine system. Interestingly, several of the N-formamido compounds exhibit pronounced rotational isomerism, which was demonstrated by ¹H NMR spectroscopy     

Synthetic Studies on C-Nucleosides

Chenopodium album has a non-photosynthetic chlorophyll protein known as the water-soluble chlorophyll (Chl)-binding protein (WSCP). The C. album WSCP (CaWSCP) is able to photoconvert the chlorin skeleton of Chl a into a bacteriochlorin-like skeleton. Reducing reagents such as β-mercaptoethanol or dithiothreitol inhibit photoconversion, indicating that S–S bridge(s) in CaWSCP are quite important for it. Recently, we found that the mature region of CaWSCP contains five cysteine residues; Cys2, Cys30, Cys48, Cys63, and Cys144. To identify which cysteine residues are involved in the photoconversion, we generated five mutants (C2S, C30S, C48S, C63S, and C144S) by site-directed mutagenesis. Interestingly, C48S, C63S, and C144S mutants showed the same Chl-binding activity and photoconvertibility as those of the recombinant wild-type CaWSCP-His, while the C2S and C30S mutants completely lost Chl-binding activity. Our findings indicated that the S–S bridge between Cys2 and Cys30 in each CaWSCP subunit is essential for Chl-binding activity.     

New Acyclic C-Nucleosides of the Imidazole

Abstract

Acid catalyzed isomerization of 1-aryl-(1,2-dideoxy-D-glycero-β-L-gluco-heptofuranose) [1,2-d]-2-imidazolines (4) yields 1-aryl-4-(D-galacto-pentitol-1-yl)imidazoles (8) which can be also obtained by reductive desulphuration of 1-aryl-2-benzylthio-4-(D-galacto-pentitol-1-yl)imidazoles (6). Compounds (4) were obtained by desulphuration with Raney nickel from 1-aryl-(1,2-dideoxy-D-glycero-β-L-gluco-heptofuranose) [1,2-d]-imidazolidine-2-thiones (1) or 1-aryl-2-benzylthio-(1,2-dideoxy-D-glycero-β-L-gluco-heptofuranose) [1,2-d]-2-imidazolines (2).     

Conformational Properties of the CalliFMRF-Amide Series Neuropeptides

Conformational properties of five neuropeptides belonging to the calliFMRF-amide series with the Xaa-Pro-Yaa-Gln-Asp-Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-NH₂ homologous sequences were studied by the method of theoretical conformational analysis. Three members of these group [(1) (Xaa = Thr, Yaa = Gln), (2) (Xaa = Thr, Yaa = Ser), and (3) (Xaa = Yaa = Ser)] can stimulate the saliva secretion from the separated salivary gland of the Calliphora vomitoria fly, whereas two other calliFMRF-amides [(4) (Xaa = Lys, Yaa = Asn) and (5) (Xaa = Ala, Yaa = Gly)] are inactive in this biological test. Low-energy spatial structures of the studied compounds were determined by a conformational analysis. A comparison of the stable structures of the biologically active and inactive neuropeptides revealed a similarity in their conformational properties and allowed determination of the role of separate residues in the peptide folding. The calculations demonstrated that the C-terminal hexapeptide fragment identical in all the five peptides tends to form -helical structure, whereas the variable N-terminal tripeptide regions of calliFMRF-amides (1)–(5) form more conformationally flexible structures.     

A Novel Synthetic Procedure for Acyclic C-Nucleosides

Arthrobacter paraffineus KY 4303, when grown on fructose as the sole carbon source, produced two novel glycolipids, both of which were different from trehalose-lipid produced from n-alkane and sucrose-lipids from sucrose by the same microorganism. Two kinds of glycolipids were isolated by repeating chromatography on silicic acid columns. One of the glycolipids (abbreviated as FL–1, having low polarity) was identified as fructose-6-corynomycolate and another (FL–2, having high polarity) was identified as fructose-1, 6-dicorynomycolate. Formation of fructose-lipids was also demonstrated in fructose grown cells of several strains of Corynebacteria, Nocardia, Mycobacteria and Brevibacteria.     

Studies in the Synthesis and Biosynthesis of C-Nucleosides

Abstract

The naturally occurring C-nucleosides show marked antiturnour and antiviral properties. We have developed, over a period of years, a general synthetic route to C-nucleosides by way of acetylenic intermediates. Tri-O-benzyl-D-ribofuranose (1) reacts with acetylenic Grignard reagents to give mixtures of D-allo and D-altro diols. The latter, on ring closure by means of toluene-p-sulphonyl chloride in pyridine, gives derivatives, (2) or (3), of β-D-ribofuranosylethyne in ～50% yield from (1).     

Conformational Properties of the TATA-Box Binding Sequence of DNA

Abstract

Nanosecond scale molecular dynamics simulations in water demonstrate that the DNA oligomer, GCGTATATAAAACGC, which contains a target site for the TATA-box binding protein (TBP), has an intrinsic preference to adopt an A-like conformation in the region of the TATA-box and undergoes bending related to that seen within in the TBP complex. This result is obtained from two independent simulations using different starting structures. In line with earlier suggestions of Guzikevich-Guerstein and Shakked, these simulations imply that an A-DNA conformation may be an important intermediate step in forming the strongly distorted DNA observed within the crystallographically determined complex with TBP. These results also support modeling studies by Lebrun et al. which suggest that the TBP binding mechanism can be broken down into a backbone transition to an A-like form coupled with a mechanical distortion which locally stretches and unwinds the DNA.     

Conformational Properties of Polyglutamine Sequences in Guanidine Hydrochloride Solutions

Two sets of iso-1-cytochrome c variants have been prepared with N-terminal insertions of pure polyglutamine, i.e., PolyQ variants, or polyglutamine interrupted with lysine every sixth residue, i.e., Gln-rich variants. The polymer properties of these pure polyGln or Gln-rich sequences have been evaluated using equilibrium and kinetic His-heme loop formation methods for loop sizes ranging from 22 to 46 in 1.5, 3.0, and 6.0 M guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl). In 6.0 M GdnHCl, the scaling exponent, ν₃, for the pure polyGln sequences, is ∼1.7—significantly less than ν₃ ≈ 2.15 for the Gln-rich sequences. The stability of the His-heme loops becomes progressively greater for the pure polyGln sequences relative to the Gln-rich sequences as GdnHCl concentration decreases from 6.0 to 1.5 M. Thus, the context of the sequence effects the polymer properties of Gln repeats even in denaturing concentrations of GdnHCl. Comparison of data for the Gln-rich variants with previous results for Gly-rich and Ala-rich variants shows that ν₃ ∼ 2.2 for the Gln-rich, Gly-rich, and Ala-rich sequences in 6.0 M GdnHCl, whereas ν₃ remains unchanged at 3.0 M GdnHCl concentration for the Gln-rich and Ala-rich sequences but decreases to ∼1.7 for the Gly-rich sequences. Thus, the polymer properties of Gln-rich and Ala-rich sequences are less sensitive to solvent quality in denaturing solutions of GdnHCl than Gly-rich sequences. Evaluation of Flory’s characteristic ratio, C_n, for the Gln-rich and Ala-rich sequences relative to the Gly-rich sequences shows that Gln-rich sequences are stiffer than Ala-rich sequences at both 3.0 and 6.0 M GdnHCl.     

Synthesis and Cytostatic Activity of Halomethylthiazole C-Nucleosides and Analogues1

Abstract

The synthesis of 2-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)-and 2-(tetrahydropyran-2-yl)-4-halomethylthiazoles from 2, 5-anhydro-D-allonthioamide and tetrahydropyran-2-thiocarboxamide is described. Bromination of 2-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)- and 2-tetrahydropyran-2-yl)-4-methylthiazole with NBS is studied. Cytostatic activity against HeLa cells of all the compounds is reported.     

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Some D-Arabino- and D-Lyxofuranosyl-Pyridine C-Nucleosides

Abstract

The addition reaction of either 3-bromo-5-lithiopyridine (2a) or 3-cyano-5-lithiopyridine (2b) to 2,3:4,5-di-O-isopropylidene-aldehydo-D-arabinose (1) or 2,4:3,5-di-O-benzylidene-aldehydo-D-lyxose (8) gave respectively a D-gluco/D-manno mixture of 3-bromo- and 3-cyano-5-(2,3:4,5-di-O-isopropylidene-pentitol-1-yl)pyridine (3a,b) or a D-galacto/D-talo mixture of respectively 3-bromo- and 3-cyano-5-(2,4:3,5-di-O-benzylidene-pentitol-1-yl)pyridine (9a,b). Mesylation of C-1′ followed by reaction with CF₃COOH/H₂O resulted in the formation of the corresponding D-arabino- or D-lyxofuranosyl pyridine C-nucleosides. The cyano group of (5b) and (11b) was converted into a carbamoyl group using Amberlite IRA 400 (OH^?). 3-Cyano-5-D-arabinofuianosylpyridine (5b) was converted into 3-thiocarbamoyl-5-D-arabinofuranosyl-pyridine (7) using H₂S and triethylamine.

None of the test compounds showed a marked cytostatic or antiviral activity in vitro.     

Conformational Properties of Neuromedin NmU-8 and Its Modified Analogs

The three-dimensional organization and conformational properties of NmU-8 neuropeptide and its modified analogs have been studied by modeling and compared with the available data on their biological activity. The effect of single amino acids substitutions on conformational states of the native neuropeptide is discussed. The low-energy conformations responsible for its contractile activity have been revealed.     

Static and Dynamic Conformational Properties of AT sequences in B-DNA

Abstract

A theoretical study of the optimal conformations of nucleic acid oligomers containing tracts of AT base pairs is presented. The oligomers are studied in isolation and complexed with netropsin, a minor groove binding ligand. The flexibility of the oligomers and of their complexes is calculated by adiabatic mapping with respect to the total winding angle. The results of this study show that in uncomplexed oligomers the dinucleotide junctions AA, AT and TA have very different structural parameters and different responses to winding stress. The TA junction is clearly the most flexible and is the principal site for accommodating the imposed overwinding. Complexation by netropsin leads to two important effects: firstly, the three junctions adopt more uniform structures, the largest changes again being observed for TA, secondly, the differences in flexibility as a function of sequence are strongly attenuated.     

Ligand Binding to Anion-binding Exosites Regulates Conformational Properties of Thrombin

Thrombin participates in coagulation, anticoagulation, and initiation of platelet activation. To fulfill its diverse roles and maintain hemostasis, this serine protease is regulated via the extended active site region and anion-binding exosites (ABEs) I and II. For the current project, amide proton hydrogen-deuterium exchange coupled with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry was used to characterize ligand binding to individual exosites and to investigate the presence of exosite-active site and exosite-exosite interactions. PAR3(44–56) and PAR1(49–62) were observed to bind to thrombin ABE I and then to exhibit long range effects over to ABE II. By contrast, Hirudin(54–65) focused more on ABE I and did not transmit influences over to ABE II. Although these three ligands were each directed to ABE I, they did not promote the same conformational consequences. d-Phe-Pro-Arg-chloromethyl ketone inhibition at the thrombin active site led to further local and long range consequences to thrombin-ABE I ligand complexes with the autolysis loop often most affected. When Hirudin(54–65) was bound to ABE I, it was still possible to bind GpIbα(269–286) or fibrinogen γ′(410–427) to ABE II. Each ligand exerted its predominant influences on thrombin and also allowed interexosite communication. The results obtained support the proposal that thrombin is a highly dynamic protein. The transmission of ligand-specific local and long range conformational events is proposed to help regulate this multifunctional enzyme.     

Efficient Stereoselective Synthesis of New C-Nucleosides via Intramolecular Mitsunobu Cyclization

Abstract

We have studied the stereoselective synthesis of new C-nucleosides by heteroarylation of the protected γ-ribonolactone by means of heteroaromatic systems such as indole, thiazoles, imidazoles and benzimidazoles. We have observed that the first anion addition-limiting step is very sensitive to steric factors induced by the N-protective groups in α-position.     

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Acyclic C-Nucleosides from 1,2- and 1,3-Diketones

A simple, rapid and regioselective approach for the synthesis of C-acyclic nucleosides 3, 4, 6, and 9 of dihydropyrimidine, imidazole and indeno[1,2-b]pyridine-9-one derived from 1,2- and 1,3-diketones was performed. By using DMF or pyridine as solvent or bentonite clay as a support, in the presence of TMSTf, ZnCl₂, NH₄OAc, or NH₄NO₃, all the desired products were obtained within 5–25 minutes under microwave irradiation (MWI). Acid hydrolysis of 6 and 9 afforded the free acyclic C-nucleosides 7 and 10, respectively. Upon treatment with NaOMe under MWI, 3 and 14 rearranged to the C-nucleoside 4 and 16.