Analogs of viroidin. Synthesis of four virotoxin-like F-actin binding heptapeptides with one less hydroxyl group in the dihydroxy-proline ring

The vitroxins, toxic cyclic heptapeptides from Amanita virosa fungi, contain a 3,4-dihydroxy-L-proline, an imino acid scarcely accessible in greater amounts. Therefore in the syntheses of the analogs described this imino acid was replaced by 4-cis-hydroxy-L-proline, a component of the analogously toxic phallotoxins. The following syntheses are described: 1a = cyclo (L-alanyl-D-threonyl-D-seryl-L-4-cis-hydroxy-L-prolyl-L-alanyl-2- methylthio-L-tryptophyl-L-leucyl), 1b = 1a but with 2-methylsulfonyl-L-tryptophan in position 6, 2a = cyclic (L-valyl-D-threonyl-D-seryl-4-cis-hydroxy-L-prolyl-L-alanyl-2- methylthio-L-tryptophyl-hydroxyl-L-leucyl), and 2b = 2a, but with 2-methylsulfonyl-L-tryptophan in position 6. In a test for binding strength to rabbit muscle F-actin 2b and 2a exhibited about 40% of that of demethylphalloin. Analogs 1a and 2b have not been tested.