Recognition of Peptides by Cyclodextrin Trimers

New methods of modification of α-cyclodextrin

While being some of the oldest supramolecular hosts, cyclodextrins remain very popular as molecular binders in materials, devices, artificial enzymes and more. The popularity is undoubtedly connected to the ready availability, carbohydrate biomass origin, biodegradability and water solubility of the cyclodextrins. Many of these applications require synthetic modification of the cyclodextrin - at the simplest the attachment of a linker - but also often attachment of several functional groups, lids, bridges etc. Here we review state of the art methods of modifying α-cyclodextrin, which include direct modications of unprotected α-cyclodextrin and protection/deprotection method to partially modified cyclodextrins.

Programmed Synthesis of Hepta-Differentiated β-Cyclodextrin: 1 out of 117655 Arrangements

Cyclodextrin poly-functionalization has fueled progress in their use in multiple applications such as enzyme mimicry, but also in the polymer sciences, luminescence, as sensors or for biomedical applications. However, regioselective access to a given pattern of functions on β-cyclodextrin is still very limited. We uncover a new orienting group, the thioacetate, that expands the toolbox available for cyclodextrin poly-hetero-functionalization using diisobutylaluminum hydride (DIBAL-H) promoted debenzylation. The usefulness of this group is illustrated in the first synthesis of a precisely hepta-hetero-functionalized β-cyclodextrin. By way of comparison, a random hepta-functionalization would give 117655 different molecules. This synthesis is not simply the vain quest for the Holy Grail of CD hetero-functionalization, but it illustrates the versatility of the DIBAL-H oriented hetero-functionalization strategy, opening the way to a multitude of useful functionalization patterns for new practical applications.

Analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry: An update for 2011-2012

This review is the seventh update of the original article published in 1999 on the application of MALDI mass spectrometry to the analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates and brings coverage of the literature to the end of 2012. General aspects such as theory of the MALDI process, matrices, derivatization, MALDI imaging, and fragmentation are covered in the first part of the review and applications to various structural types constitute the remainder. The main groups of compound are oligo- and poly-saccharides, glycoproteins, glycolipids, glycosides, and biopharmaceuticals. Much of this material is presented in tabular form. Also discussed are medical and industrial applications of the technique, studies of enzyme reactions, and applications to chemical synthesis. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Mass Spec Rev 36:255-422, 2017.

Supramolecular protection from the enzymatic tyrosine phosphorylation in a polypeptide

Two pseudopeptidic cages bind the EYE peptide motif of poly(EY) in buffered water, as shown by NMR and fluorescence spectroscopy. This supramolecular interaction protects the Tyr residues from the enzymatic phosphorylation by PTK.

Stereoselective recognition of the Ac-Glu-Tyr-OH dipeptide by pseudopeptidic cages

Pseudopeptidic molecular cages are appealing receptors since they can display different polar and non-polar interaction sites in a modular framework and a controlled disposition. Inspired by previous host-guest knowledge, two pseudopeptidic molecular cages based on serine and threonine (CySer and CyThr, respectively) were designed and synthesized as hosts for the binding of the four possible stereoisomers of the Ac-Glu-Tyr-OH dipeptide, a target sequence of tyrosine kinases. The careful NMR titration experiments in aqueous acetonitrile allowed the determination of the binding constants and reflected a difference in the stability of the corresponding diastereomeric host-guest complexes. The CySer cage proved to be slightly more efficient than the CyThr counterpart, although both showed similar stereoselectivity trends: LL > DD ≥ LD > DL. This stereoselective binding was retained in the gas phase, as shown by ESI-MS competition experiments using the enantiomer-labelled method (EL), as well as CID experiments. Thus, the MS-determined discriminations follow the same trends observed by NMR, suggesting that the stereoselectivity observed for these systems must be mainly dictated by the polar host-guest interactions. Despite the stereoselective binding of short peptide sequences in competitive media being a challenging issue in supramolecular chemistry, our results demonstrate the power of pseudopeptidic cages in molecular recognition with foreseen implications in chemical biology.

Towards the sequence-specific multivalent molecular recognition of cyclodextrin oligomers

Sequence-specific multivalent molecular recognition has been recognized to play a major role in biological processes. Furthermore, sequence-specific recognition motifs have been used in various artificial systems in the last years, e.g., to emulate biological processes or to build up new materials with highly specific recognition domains. In this article, we present the preparation of cyclodextrin (CD)-based strands and complementary and non-complementary strands modified with guest molecules and the investigation of their complexation behavior towards each other by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). As complementary binding motifs n-butyl and α-CD and adamantane and β-CD were selected. It was found that it is possible to realize sequence-specific molecular recognition by the use of host–guest chemistry, but the recognition motifs as well as the linkages have to be chosen very carefully. In the case of trivalent systems one adamantane moiety must be included to induce preferred formation of 1:1 adducts. Due to the too weak interaction between n-butyl and α-CD these systems have a negative chelate cooperativity and open adducts are preferentially formed. As soon as two adamantane moieties are present, the complementary systems have a positive chelate cooperativity and double-stranded structures are favored over open adducts. In this system the n-butyl moiety provides insufficient discrimination towards α- and β-CD and no sequence specificity is observed. By the combination of three adamantane moieties sequence specificity can be generated. Exclusively with the complementary CD sequence double-stranded structures are formed, with non-complementary strands aggregates of higher stoichiometry are generated.

Highly efficient cyclosarin degradation mediated by a β-cyclodextrin derivative containing an oxime-derived substituent

The potential of appropriately substituted cyclodextrins to act as scavengers for neurotoxic organophosphonates under physiological conditions was evaluated. To this end, a series of derivatives containing substituents with an aldoxime or a ketoxime moiety along the narrow opening of the β-cyclodextrin cavity was synthesized, and the ability of these compounds to reduce the inhibitory effect of the neurotoxic organophosphonate cyclosarin on its key target, acetylcholinesterase, was assessed in vitro. All compounds exhibited a larger effect than native β-cyclodextrin, and characteristic differences were noted. These differences in activity were correlated with the structural and electronic parameters of the substituents. In addition, the relatively strong effect of the cyclodextrin derivatives on cyclosarin degradation and, in particular, the observed enantioselectivity are good indications that noncovalent interactions between the cyclodextrin ring and the substrate, presumably involving the inclusion of the cyclohexyl moiety of cyclosarin into the cyclodextrin cavity, contribute to the mode of action. Among the nine compounds investigated, one exhibited remarkable activity, completely preventing acetylcholinesterase inhibition by the (−)-enantiomer of cyclosarin within seconds under the conditions of the assay. Thus, these investigations demonstrate that decoration of cyclodextrins with appropriate substituents represents a promising approach for the development of scavengers able to detoxify highly toxic nerve agents.