Identification of Fmoc‐β‐Ala‐OH and Fmoc‐β‐Ala‐amino acid‐OH as new impurities in Fmoc‐protected amino acid derivatives*

Abstract: During the manufacture of a proprietary peptide drug substance a new impurity appeared unexpectedly. Investigation of its chemical structure established the impurity as a β‐Ala insertion mutant of the mother peptide. The source of the β‐Ala was identified as contamination of the Fmoc‐Ala‐OH raw material with Fmoc‐β‐Ala‐Ala‐OH. Further studies also demonstrated the presence of β‐Ala in other Fmoc‐amino acids, particularly in Fmoc‐Arg(Pbf)‐OH. In this case, it was due to the presence of both Fmoc‐β‐Ala‐OH and Fmoc‐β‐Ala‐Arg(Pbf)‐OH. It is concluded that β‐Ala contamination of Fmoc‐amino acid derivatives is a general and hitherto unrecognized problem to suppliers of Fmoc‐amino acid derivatives. The β‐Ala is often present as Fmoc‐β‐Ala‐OH and/or as a dipeptide, Fmoc‐β‐Ala‐amino acid‐OH. In collaboration with the suppliers, new specifications were introduced, recognizing the presence of β‐Ala‐related impurities in the raw materials and limiting them to acceptable levels. The implementation of these measures has essentially eliminated β‐Ala contamination as a problem in the manufacture of the drug substance.     

Simple and stereospecific homologation of urethane‐protected α‐amino acids to their higher homologs using HBTU1

Abstract: A simple, efficient and stereospecific approach for the homologation of urethane‐protected α‐amino acids to β‐amino acids by the Arndt–Eistert method employing Fmoc‐/Boc‐α‐amino acid and 2‐(1H‐benzotriazole‐1‐yl)‐1,1,3,3‐tetramethyl‐uronium hexafluorophosphate mixture for the acylation of diazomethane synthesizing the key intermediates Fmoc‐/Boc‐α‐aminodiazomethanes as crystalline solids is described.     

Homologation of α-amino acids to β-amino acids using Fmoc-amino acid pentafluorophenyl esters

The homologation of α-amino acids to β-amino acids by the two-step Arndt–Eister method is achieved by using Fmoc-α-amino acid pentafluorophenyl esters for the acylation of diazomethane, synthesizing the key intermediates Fmoc-aminoacyldiazomethanes as crystalline solids in good yields and purity.     

Improved solid‐phase synthesis of α,α‐dialkylated amino acid‐rich peptides with antimicrobial activity*

Abstract: A homologous series of nonapeptides and their acetylated versions were successfully prepared using solid‐phase synthetic techniques. Each nonapeptide was rich in α,α‐dialkylated amino acids [one 4‐aminopiperidine‐4‐carboxylic acid (Api) and six α‐aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) residues] and also included lysines or lysine analogs (two residues). The incorporation of the protected dipeptide 9‐fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc)‐Aib‐Aib‐OH improved the purity and overall yields of these de novo designed peptides. The helix preference of each nonapeptide was investigated in six different solvent environments, and each peptide's antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity were studied. The 3₁₀‐helical, amphipathic design of these peptides was born out most prominently in the N‐terminally acetylated peptides. Most of the peptides exhibited modest activity against Escherichia coli and no activity against Staphylococcus aureus. The nonacetylated peptides (concentrations ≤100 μm ) and the acetylated peptides (concentrations ≤200 μm ) did not exhibit any significant cytotoxicity with normal (nonactivated) murine macrophages.     

Synthesis of β‐amino acid derivatives and their inhibitory profiles against some metabolic enzymes

Sulfamate and its derivatives have a range of biological activities. One‐pot cyclocondensation of alkenes ( 1a–i ) with chlorosulfonyl isocyanate generates β‐lactams. β‐Amino acid derivatives ( 2a–i ) from β‐lactams were synthesized. Then, these highly reactive compounds were opened with MeOH to produce the corresponding sulfamate derivatives in good yields. The inhibitory effects of the novel sulfamate derivatives were tested on human carbonic anhydrase I and II isoenzymes (hCA I and hCA II), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and α‐glycosidase (α‐Gly). Novel sulfamate derivatives showed K_i values in the range of 23.81–42.97 nM against hCA I, 8.95–52.23 nM against hCA II, 8.10–45.51 nM against AChE, 23.16–81.84 nM against BChE, and 14.02–48.68 nM against α‐Gly. As a result, the novel sulfamate derivatives had potent inhibitory effects against both isoenzymes. Overall, due to the inhibitory effects of the novel sulfamate derivatives on the tested metabolic enzymes, they are promising drug candidates for the treatment of diseases like glaucoma, epilepsy, leukemia, Alzheimer's disease, and type 2 diabetes mellitus, which are associated with high enzymatic activity of the indicated metabolic enzymes.     

Synthesis,crystal structure and molecular conformation of Nα‐Boc‐l‐leucyl‐(Z)‐β‐(3‐pyridyl)‐α,β‐ dehydroalanyl‐l‐leucine methyl ester*

Abstract: A protected tridehydropeptide containing (Z)‐β‐(3‐pyridyl)‐α,β‐dehydroalanine (Δ^Z3Pal) residue, Boc‐Leu‐Δ^Z3Pal‐Leu‐OMe ( 1 ), was synthesized via Erlenmeyer azlactone method. X‐ray crystallographic analysis revealed that the peptide 1 adopts an extended conformation, which is similar to that of a Δ^ZPhe analog, Boc‐Leu‐Δ^ZPhe‐Leu‐OMe ( 2 ).     

Synthesis of enantiopure non‐natural α‐amino acids using tert‐butyl (2S)‐2‐[bis‐(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)amino]‐5‐oxopentanoate as key‐intermediate:the first synthesis of(S)‐2‐amino‐oleic acid

Abstract: A general method for the synthesis of enantiopure non‐natural α‐amino acids is described. The key intermediate tert‐butyl (2S)‐2‐[bis(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)amino]‐5‐oxopentanoate was obtained from l ‐glutamic acid after suitable protection and selective reduction of the γ‐methyl ester group by DIBALH. Wittig reaction of this chiral aldehyde with various ylides led to a variety of δ,ε‐unsaturated α‐amino acids. This methodology was applied to the synthesis of (S)‐2‐amino‐oleic acid.     

Variation of amino acid properties in protein secondary structures, α-helices and β-strands

A study was made on the physical, chemical, energetic, conformational, geometric, and dynamic property potentials of amino acid residues in protein secondary structures: α-helix and β-strand. Property patterns were obtained by computing the average property values for specified residue units partitioned longitudinally and transversely about the chain. It was found that in r-helices with not more than 15 residues, there exist longitudinally opposing portions, one characteristically higher in average property potentials than the other. The helical chain, in general, acquires either an increasing or decreasing average potential in the N-terminal to C-terminal direction. The sequence-wise and surface-wise variations of property potentials in the elements of β-structure also revealed such general patterns. Possible wrong predictions in statistical methods of one secondary structural class over the other are pointed out.     

Conformational properties of hybrid peptides containing α‐ and ω‐amino acids*

Abstract: This review briefly surveys the conformational properties of guest ω‐amino acid residues when incorporated into host α‐peptide sequences. The results presented focus primarily on the use of β‐ and γ‐residues in αω sequences. The insertion of additional methylene groups into peptide backbones enhances the range of accessible conformations, introducing additional torsional variables. A nomenclature system, which permits ready comparisons between α‐peptides and hybrid sequences, is defined. Crystal structure determination of hybrid peptides, which adopt helical and β‐hairpin conformations permits the characterization of backbone conformational parameters for β‐ and γ‐residues inserted into regular α‐polypeptide structures. Substituted β‐ and γ‐residues are more limited in the range of accessible conformation than their unsubstituted counterparts. The achiral β,β‐disubstituted γ‐amino acid, gabapentin, is an example of a stereochemically constrained residue in which the torsion angles about the C^β–C^γ (θ₁) and C^α–C^β (θ₂) bonds are restricted to the gauche conformation. Hybrid sequences permit the design of novel hydrogen bonded rings in peptide structures.     

The Proteolytic Stability and Cytotoxicity Studies of l‐Aspartic Acid and l‐Diaminopropionic Acid derived β‐Peptides and a Mixed α/β‐Peptide

The use of peptides as drugs in pharmaceutical applications is hindered by their susceptibility to proteolysis and therefore low bioavailability. β‐Peptides that contain an additional methylene group in the backbone, are gaining recognition from a pharmaceutical stand point as they are considerably more resilient to proteolysis and metabolism. Recently, we reported two new classes of β ‐peptides, β ³‐ and β²‐peptides derived from l ‐aspartic acid and l ‐diaminopropionic acid, respectively. Here, we report the proteolytic stability of these β‐peptidic compounds and a mixed α /β‐peptide against three enzymes (pronase, trypsin and elastase), as well as, human serum. The stability of these peptides was compared to an α‐peptide. Peptides containing β‐linkages were resistant to all conditions. The mixed α /β‐peptide, however, exhibited proteolysis in the presence of trypsin and pronase but not elastase. The rate of degradation of the mixed α /β‐peptide was slower than that would be expected for an α‐peptide. In addition, these β‐peptides were not toxic to HeLa and COS‐1 cell lines as observed by MTT cytotoxicity assay. These results expand the scope of mixed α /β‐peptides containing β‐amino acids or small β‐peptide fragments as therapeutic peptides.     

The biological consequences of replacing hydrophobic amino acids in deltorphin I with amphiphilic α‐hydroxymethylamino acids

Abstract: New analogues of deltorphin I (DT I), in which the Phe residue in position 3, and the Val residue in position 5 or 6 are replaced with respective amphiphilic α‐hydroxymethylamino acid residues (HmAA), were synthesized and tested for receptor affinity and selectivity to μ and δ opioid receptors. The analogue with (R)‐HmPhe at position 3 lost receptor selectivity, as a result of a partial decrease of affinity to δ and a significant increase of affinity to μ receptors. In contrast, an analogue with (S)‐HmPhe in the same position, was very potent and more specific to δ receptors than parent DT I. The analogue with (R)‐HmVal at position 5 expressed higher δ affinity and selectivity than parent DT I. The analogue with other possible isomer (S)‐HmVal was less selective for δ opioid receptors, as a result of decreasing affinity to δ and increasing affinity to μ receptors. The analogues with (R)‐ or (S)‐HmVal in position 6 expressed equally low receptor affinity and selectivity. The data obtained support a previously proposed model of active conformation of deltorphins.     

Protective effects of β‐sheet breaker α/β‐hybrid peptide against amyloid β‐induced neuronal apoptosis in vitro

Alzheimer's disease is most common neurodegenerative disorder and is characterized by increased production of soluble amyloid‐β oligomers, the main toxic species predominantly formed from aggregation of monomeric amyloid‐β (Aβ). Increased production of Aβ invokes a cascade of oxidative damages to neurons and eventually leads to neuronal death. This study was aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of a β‐sheet breaker α/β‐hybrid peptide (BSBHp) and the underlying mechanisms against Aβ₄₀‐induced neurotoxicity in human neuroblastoma SH‐SY5Y cells. Cells were pretreated with the peptide Aβ₄₀ to induce neurotoxicity. Assays for cell viability, cell membrane damage, cellular apoptosis, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), intracellular free Ca²⁺, and key apoptotic protein levels were performed in vitro. Our results showed that pretreatment with BSBHp significantly attenuates Aβ₄₀‐induced toxicity by retaining cell viability, suppressing generation of ROS, Ca²⁺ levels, and effectively protects neuronal apoptosis by suppressing pro‐apoptotic protein Bax and up‐regulating antiapoptotic protein Bcl‐2. These results suggest that α/β‐hybrid peptide has neuroprotective effects against Aβ₄₀‐induced oxidative stress, which might be a potential therapeutic agent for treating or preventing neurodegenerative diseases.     

Facile synthesis of Nα‐protected‐l‐α,γ‐diaminobutyric acids mediated by polymer‐supported hypervalent iodine reagent in water

Abstract: Hofmann rearrangement of N^α‐Boc‐l ‐Gln‐OH mediated by a polymer‐supported hypervalent iodine reagent poly[(4‐diacetoxyiodo)styrene] (PSDIB) in water afforded N^α‐Boc‐l ‐α,γ‐diaminobutyric acid (Boc‐Dab‐OH, 1 ) in 87% yield. N^α‐Z‐derivative (Z‐Dab‐OH, 2 ) was prepared with PSDIB in 83% yield. Since the reaction of N^α‐Fmoc‐Gln‐OH by this procedure did not proceed because of the insolubility of Fmoc‐Gln‐OH in aqueous media, we synthesized Fmoc‐Dab(Boc)‐OH ( 5 ) from 2 in 54% yield. Polymyxin B heptapeptide (PMBH) which contains four Dab residues was successfully synthesized in a solution‐phase synthesis.     

A topographically and conformationally constrained,spin‐labeled, α‐amino acid: crystallographic characterization in peptides*

Abstract: 2,2,6,6‐Tetramethylpiperidine‐1‐oxyl‐4‐amino‐4‐carboxylic acid (TOAC) is a topographically and conformationally restricted, nitroxide containing, C^α‐tetrasubstituted α‐amino acid. Here, we describe the molecular and crystal structures, as determined by X‐ray diffraction analyses, of a TOAC terminally protected derivative, the cyclic dipeptide c(TOAC)₂·1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoropropan‐2‐ol (HFIP) solvate, and five TOAC‐containing, terminally protected, linear peptides ranging in length from tetra‐ to hepta‐peptides. Incipient and fully developed, regular or distorted 3₁₀‐helical structures are formed by the linear peptides. A detailed discussion on the average geometry and preferred conformation for the TOAC piperidine ring is also reported. The X‐ray diffraction structure of an intramolecularly cyclized side product resulting from a C‐activated TOAC residue has also been determined.     

New tools for the control of peptide conformation: the helicogenic Cα‐methyl,Cα‐cyclohexylglycine*

Abstract: The novel C^α‐tetrasubstituted α‐amino acid C^α‐methyl, C^α‐cyclohexylglycine was prepared by hydrogenation of its C^α‐methyl, C^α‐phenylglycine precursor. Terminally protected homodi‐, homotri‐, and homotetrapeptides from C^α‐methyl, C^α‐cyclohexylglycine and co‐oligopeptides to the pentamer level in combination with Gly or α‐aminoisobutyric acid residues were prepared by solution methods and fully characterized. The results of a conformational analysis, performed by use of Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectrophotomet absorption, ¹H NMR, and X‐ray diffraction techniques, support the contention that this C^α‐methylated, C^β‐trisubstituted aliphatic α‐amino acid is an effective β‐turn and 3₁₀‐helix inducer in tri‐ and longer peptides as its C^α‐methyl valine parent compound, but partially divergent from the corresponding aromatic C^α‐methyl, C^α‐diphenylmethylglycine residue, known to promote folded and fully extended structures to a significant extent in these oligomers.     

Isoeugenodilol: A vasorelaxant α/β‐adrenoceptor blocker with antioxidant activity

Isoeugenodilol, derived from isoeugenol, was investigated under in vivo and in vitro conditions. Isoeugenodilol (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 3.0 mg kg^–1, i.v.) produced dose‐dependent hypotensive and bradycardia responses in pentobarbital‐anesthetized Wistar rats. Isoeugenodilol (0.5 mg kg^–1, i.v.) also markedly inhibited both the tachycardia effects induced by (‐) isoproterenol and arterial pressor responses induced by phenylephrine. A single oral administration of isoeugenodilol at doses of 10, 30, and 100 mg kg^–1 dose‐dependently reduced blood pressure, with a decrease in heart rate in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). In the isolated Wistar rat right atria, left atria, and guinea pig tracheal strips, isoeugenodilol competitively antagonized the (‐) isoproterenol‐induced positive chronotropic effects, inotropic effects, and tracheal relaxation effects in a concentration‐dependent manner. The parallel shift to the right of the concentration–response curve of (‐) isoproterenol suggested that isoeugenodilol was a β₁/β₂‐adrenoceptor competitive antagonist. The apparent pA₂ values were 7.33 ± 0.12 in the right atria, 7.80 ± 0.09 in the left atria, and 7.26 ± 0.11 in the trachea, indicating that isoeugenodilol was a nonselective β‐adrenoceptor blocker. In thoracic aorta experiments, isoeugenodilol also produced a competitive antagonism of norepinephrine‐induced contraction with a pA₂ value of 7.47 ± 0.45. In isolated atria of reserpinized rats, cumulative additions of isoeugenodilol and propranolol produced significantly cardiodepressant responses at high concentrations (10^–5 M) and were without intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (ISA). In isolated rat thoracic aorta, isoeugenodilol more potently relaxed the contractions induced by norepinephrine (3 × 10^–6 M) than those by high K⁺ (75 mM). The vasorelaxant effects of isoeugenodilol on norepinephrine‐induced contractions were attenuated by pretreatment with tetraethylammonium (TEA) and glibenclamide, implying the involvement of K⁺ channel opening. In addition, isoeugenodilol inhibited norepinephrine‐induced biphasic contraction; it affected the fast phase significantly more than the slow phase. Furthermore, the binding characteristics of isoeugenodilol and various β‐adrenoceptor antagonists were evaluated in [³H]CGP‐12177 binding to rat ventricle and lung tissues and [³H]prazosin binding to brain membranes. The ranking order of inhibition for [³H]CGP‐12177 binding on β‐adrenoceptor was propranolol > labetalol > isoeugenodilol, and that for [³H]prazosin binding to α‐adrenoceptors was isoeugenodilol > labetalol. Furthermore, isoeugenodilol inhibited lipid peroxidation induced by Fe²⁺ and ascorbic acid with IC₅₀ of 0.74 ± 0.03 mM, indicating that it possesses the antioxidant activity inherent in isoeugenol. In conclusion, isoeugenodilol was found to be a new generation α/β‐adrenoceptor antagonist with vasorelaxant activity by inhibiting Ca²⁺ channel, receptor‐mediated Ca²⁺ mobilization and by K⁺ channel opening, and to have additional potentially antioxidant effects. Drug Dev. Res. 51:29–42, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Estrogen and ERα enhanced β‐catenin degradation and suppressed its downstream target genes to block the metastatic function of HA22T hepatocellular carcinoma cells via modulating GSK‐3β and β‐TrCP expression

In our previous experiments, we found β‐catenin was highly expressed in the tumor area with high invasive ability and poor prognosis. In this study, we have examined the mechanism by which ERα regulates β‐catenin expression as well as the metastasis ability of hepatocellular cancer HA22T cells. To identify whether the anticancer effect of estrogen and ERα is mediated through suppression of β‐catenin expression, we co‐transfected pCMV‐β‐catenin and ERα into HA22T cells, and determined the cell motility by wound healing, invasion, and migration assays. Results showed that estrogen and/or ERα inhibited β‐catenin gene expression and repressed HA22T cell motility demonstrated that similar data was observed in cells expressing the ERα stable clone. Moreover, we examined the protein‐protein interaction between ERα and β‐catenin by immunostain, co‐immunoprecipitation, and Western blotting. E2 enhanced the binding of ERα with β‐catenin and then triggered β‐catenin to bind with E3 ligase (βTrCP) to promote β‐catenin degradation. Finally by employing systematic ChIP studies, we showed ERα can interact directly with the β‐catenin promoter region following E2 treatment. All our results reveal that estrogen and ERα blocked metastatic function of HA22T cells by modulating GSK3β and βTrCP expression and further enhanced β‐catenin degradation and suppressed its downstream target genes. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 519–529, 2017.     

Conformational investigation of α, β-dehydropeptides

The crystal structure of Ac-Pro-ΔVal-NHCH₃ was examined to determine the influence of the α,β-dehydrovaline residue on the nature of peptide conformation. The peptide crystallizes from methanol-diethyl ether solution at 4° in needle-shaped form in orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁ with a= 11.384(2) Å, b = 13.277(2) Å, c = 9.942(1) Å. V = 1502.7(4) ų Z = 4, D_m= 1.17 g cm^?3 and D_c=1.18 g cm^?3 The structure was solved by direct methods using SHELXS-86 and refined to an R value of 0.057 for 1922 observed reflections. The peptide is found to adopt a β-bend between the type I and the type III conformation with φ₁=?68.3(4)°, ψ₁=? 20.1(4)°, φ₂=?73.5(4)°= and Ψ₂=?14.1(4)°=. An intramolecular hydrogen bond between the carbonyl oxygen of ith residue and the NH of (i+ 3)th residue stabilizes the β-bend. An additional intermolecular N.,.O hydrogen bond joins molecules into infinite chains. In the literature described crystal structures of peptides having a single α,β-dehydroamino acid residue in the (i+ 2) position and forming a β-bend reveal a type II conformation.     

From β‐N‐tert‐butyloxycarbonyl N‐carboxyanhydrides to β‐aminoacid derivatives

Abstract: β‐N‐tert‐butyloxycarbonyl‐N‐carboxyanhydrides are very reactive β‐amino acid derivatives. They react cleanly and smoothly with different nucleophiles like aminoesters, enolates, N‐methyl‐d ‐glucamine, amidoximes to afford in good to excellent yields peptides, β‐amino ketocompounds, β‐aminosugars and functionalized disubstituted 1,2,4‐oxadiazoles.