Publications - Bioorganic Chemistry

By targeting structural and stereochemical complexity with organocascade reactions, distinct catalysts can form molecular frameworks in an enantiodivergent way. This goal was elegantly achieved for the asymmetric synthesis of quaternary carbon centers by two complementary routes employing cascades of either enamine or iminium catalysis (see scheme; En=enamine activation, Im=iminium activation).

Reactions of fac-[PtMe3(4,4′-R2bpy)(Me2CO)][BF4] (R = H, 1a; tBu, 1b) and fac-[PtMe3(OAc-κ2O,O′)(Me2CO)] (2), respectively, with thioglycosides containing thioethyl (ch-SEt) and thioimidate (ch-STaz, Taz = thiazoline-2-yl) anomeric groups led to the formation of the carbohydrate platinum(IV) complexes fac-[PtMe3(4,4′-R2bpy)(ch*)][BF4] (ch* = ch-SEt, 8–14; ch-STaz, 15–23) and fac-[PtMe3(OAc-κ2O,O′)(ch*)] (ch* = ch-SEt, 24–28; ch-STaz = 29–35), respectively. NMR (1H, 13C, 195Pt) spectroscopic investigations and a single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of 19 (ch-STaz = 2-thiazolinyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-1-thio-β-D-galactopyranose) revealed the S coordination of the ch-SEt glycosides and the N coordination of the ch-STaz glycosides. Furthermore, X-ray structure analyses of the two decomposition products fac-[PtMe3(bpy)(STazH-κS)][BF4] (21a) and 1,6-anhydro-2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-β-D-glucopyranose (23a), where a cleavage of the anomeric C–S bond had occurred in both cases, gave rise to the assumption that this decomposition was mediated due to coordination of the thioglycosides to the high electrophilic platinum(IV) atom, in non-strictly dried solutions. Reactions of fac-[PtMe3(Me2CO)3][BF4] (3) with ch-SEt as well as with ch-SPT and ch-Sbpy thioglycosides (PT = 4-(pyridine-2-yl)-thiazole-2-yl; bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine-6-yl), having N,S and N,N heteroaryl anomeric groups, respectively, led to the formation of platinum(IV) complexes of the type fac-[PtMe3(ch*)][BF4] (ch* = ch-SEt, 36–40, ch-SPT 42–44, ch-Sbpy45, 46). The thioglycosides were found to be coordinated in a tridentate κS,κ2O,O′, κS,κN,κO and κS,κ2N,N′ coordination mode, respectively. Analogous reactions with ch-STaz ligands succeeded for 2-thiazolinyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-6-O-(2,2′-bipyridine-6-yl)-1-thio-β-D-glucopyranoside (5h) resulting in fac-[PtMe3(ch-STaz)][BF4] (41, ch-STaz = 5h), having a κ3N,N′,N′′coordinated thioglycoside ligand.

Multicomponent reactions (MCRs) that provide in the final product amides are suitable to produce peptides and peptide-like moieties. The Passerini and Staudinger reactions provide one amide bond, and the Ugi-four-component reaction generates two amides from three or even four (or more) components, respectively. The Ugi-reaction thus is most important to produce peptides and peptoids while the Passerini reaction is useful to generate depsipeptoid moieties. In order to produce cyclic peptides and pseudopeptides, the linear peptidic MCR products have to be cyclized, usually with the help of bifunctional or activatable building blocks. Orthogonal but cyclizable secondary functionalities that need no protection in isonitrile MCRs commonly include alkenes (for ring closing metathesis), azide/alkyne (for Huisgen click reactions) or dienes and enoates (Diels-Alder) etc. If MCR-reactive groups are to be used also for the cyclisation, monoprotected bifunctional building blocks are used and deprotected after the MCR, e.g. for Ugi reactions as Ugi-Deprotection-Cyclisation (UDC). Alternatively one of the former building blocks or functional groups generated by the MCR can be activated. Most commonly these are activated amides (from so-called convertible isonitriles) which can be used e.g. for Ugi-Activation-Cyclisation (UAC) protocols, or most recently for a simultaneous use of both strategies Ugi-Deprotection/Activation-Cyclisation (UDAC). These methods mostly lead to small, medicinally relevant peptide turn mimics. In an opposing strategy, the MCR is rather used as ring-closing reaction, thereby introducing a (di-)peptide moiety. Most recently these processes have been combined to use MCRs for both, linear precursor synthesis and cyclisation. These multiple MCR approaches allow the most efficient and versatile one pot synthesis of macrocyclic pseudopeptides known to date.

Salutaridine reductase (SalR, EC 1.1.1.248) catalyzes the stereospecific reduction of salutaridine to 7(S)-salutaridinol in the biosynthesis of morphine. It belongs to a new, plant-specific class of short-chain dehydrogenases, which are characterized by their monomeric nature and increased length compared with related enzymes. Homology modeling and substrate docking suggested that additional amino acids form a novel α-helical element, which is involved in substrate binding. Site-directed mutagenesis and subsequent studies on enzyme kinetics revealed the importance of three residues in this element for substrate binding. Further replacement of eight additional residues led to the characterization of the entire substrate binding pocket. In addition, a specific role in salutaridine binding by either hydrogen bond formation or hydrophobic interactions was assigned to each amino acid. Substrate docking also revealed an alternative mode for salutaridine binding, which could explain the strong substrate inhibition of SalR. An alternate arrangement of salutaridine in the enzyme was corroborated by the effect of various amino acid substitutions on substrate inhibition. In most cases, the complete removal of substrate inhibition was accompanied by a substantial loss in enzyme activity. However, some mutations greatly reduced substrate inhibition while maintaining or even increasing the maximal velocity. Based on these results, a double mutant of SalR was created that exhibited the complete absence of substrate inhibition and higher activity compared with wild-type SalR.

Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) are a group of nitrogen-containing plant secondary metabolites comprised of an estimated 2500 identified structures. In BIA metabolism, (S)-reticuline is a key branch-point intermediate that can be directed into several alkaloid subtypes with different structural skeleton configurations. The morphinan alkaloids are one subclass of BIAs produced in only a few plant species, most notably and abundantly in the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum). Comparative transcriptome analysis of opium poppy and several other Papaver species that do not accumulate morphinan alkaloids showed that known genes encoding BIA biosynthetic enzymes are expressed at higher levels in P. somniferum. Three unknown cDNAs that are co-ordinately expressed with several BIA biosynthetic genes were identified as enzymes in the pathway. One of these enzymes, salutaridine reductase (SalR), which is specific for the production of morphinan alkaloids, was isolated and heterologously overexpressed in its active form not only from P. somniferum, but also from Papaver species that do not produce morphinan alkaloids. SalR is a member of a class of short chain dehydrogenase/reductases (SDRs) that are active as monomers and possess an extended amino acid sequence compared with classical SDRs. Homology modelling and substrate docking revealed the substrate binding site for SalR. The amino acids residues conferring salutaridine binding were compared to several members of the SDR family from different plant species, which non-specifically reduce (−)-menthone to (+)-neomenthol. Previously, it was shown that some of these proteins are involved in plant defence. The recruitment of specific monomeric SDRs from monomeric SDRs involved in plant defence is discussed.

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The functional role of isoprenoids and especially enzymatic prenylation in nature and human application is briefly covered, with the focus on bioinformatical, mechanistical and structural aspects of prenyltransferases and terpene synthases. These enzymes are as yet underrepresented but perspectively useful biocatalysts for C–C couplings of aromatic and isoprenoid substrates. Some examples of the successful use in chemoenzymatic synthesis are given including an application for the otherwise difficult synthesis of Kuhistanol A. Computational structure-based site-directed mutagenesis can be used for rational enzyme redesign to obtain altered substrate and product specificities, which is demonstrated for terpene cyclases.

Acylation is a prevalent chemical modification that to a significant extent accounts for the tremendous diversity of plant metabolites. To catalyze acyl transfer reactions, higher plants have evolved acyltransferases that accept β-acetal esters, typically 1-O-glucose esters, as an alternative to the ubiquitously occurring CoA-thioester-dependent enzymes. Shared homology indicates that the β-acetal ester-dependent acyltransferases are derived from a common hydrolytic ancestor of the Serine CarboxyPeptidase (SCP) type, giving rise to the name Serine CarboxyPeptidase-Like (SCPL) acyltransferases. We have analyzed structure–function relationships, reaction mechanism and sequence evolution of Arabidopsis 1-O-sinapoyl-β-glucose:l-malate sinapoyltransferase (AtSMT) and related enzymes to investigate molecular changes required to impart acyltransferase activity to hydrolytic enzymes. AtSMT has maintained the catalytic triad of the hydrolytic ancestor as well as part of the H-bond network for substrate recognition to bind the acyl acceptor l-malate. A Glu/Asp substitution at the amino acid position preceding the catalytic Ser supports binding of the acyl donor 1-O-sinapoyl-β-glucose and was found highly conserved among SCPL acyltransferases. The AtSMT-catalyzed acyl transfer reaction follows a random sequential bi-bi mechanism that requires both substrates 1-O-sinapoyl-β-glucose and l-malate bound in an enzyme donor–acceptor complex to initiate acyl transfer. Together with the strong fixation of the acyl acceptor l-malate, the acquisition of this reaction mechanism favours transacylation over hydrolysis in AtSMT catalysis. The model structure and enzymatic side activities reveal that the AtSMT-mediated acyl transfer proceeds via a short-lived acyl enzyme complex. With regard to evolution, the SCPL acyltransferase clade most likely represents a recent development. The encoding genes are organized in a tandem-arranged cluster with partly overlapping functions. With other enzymes encoded by the respective gene cluster on Arabidopsis chromosome 2, AtSMT shares the enzymatic side activity to disproportionate 1-O-sinapoyl-β-glucoses to produce 1,2-di-O-sinapoyl-β-glucose. In the absence of the acyl acceptor l-malate, a residual esterase activity became obvious as a remnant of the hydrolytic ancestor. With regard to the evolution of Arabidopsis SCPL acyltransferases, our results suggest early neofunctionalization of the hydrolytic ancestor toward acyltransferase activity and acyl donor specificity for 1-O-sinapoyl-β-glucose followed by subfunctionalization to recognize different acyl acceptors.

Multicomponent Passerini and Ugi reactions enable the fast and efficient synthesis of redox-active multifunctional selenium and tellurium compounds, of which some show considerable cytotoxicity against specific cancer cells.

How can conformationally restricted polyvalent molecules be accessed rapidly? A sequential approach involving two multiple multicomponent macrocyclizations including bifunctional building blocks (MiBs) with up to five Ugi-four-component reactions (Ugi-4CR) has been developed to produce nonsymmetric macromulticycles. Topologically diverse structures, such as nonsymmetric cryptands and clam- and igloo-shaped macromulticycles were obtained in reaction sequences that comprise the incorporation of up to 13 building blocks by forming 20 new bonds without purification of intermediates. Cryptands were produced by a sequential-MiB procedure in which the Ugi-type functional groups of the second MiB are attached to the peptoid backbones from the first multicomponent macrocyclization. These macrobicycles show two completely new features; i.e., three different tether chains can be obtained in one pot, and tertiary amide bonds are used as bridgeheads. Alternatively, the same reaction sequence, i.e., MiB/deprotection/MiB, can be used to produce clam-shaped macrobicycles, demonstrated with a tetrafunctional cholanic steroid as a hinge moiety. Macrotetracycles endowed with igloo-type topologies are accessible by an advanced protocol featuring consecutive double and 3-fold Ugi-4CR-based macrocyclizations. Other building blocks than cholanic steroids employed include aryl, heterocyclic, polyether, and other recognition motifs. The examples given are a first-generation demonstration of an “architectural chemistry” that allows to construct three-dimensional multimotif covalent molecular “buildings” of unprecedented complexity by design.