A Pd(0)-catalyzed route to 13-methylidenefarnesyl diphosphate

Synthesis and biochemical evaluation of 3,7-disubstituted farnesyl diphosphate analogues

Farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) analogues have proven to be both potent inhibitors of protein-farnesyltransferase (FTase) and valuable probes for the investigation of the function of prenylated proteins. Previously, we have demonstrated that certain 3-substituted and 7-substituted FPP analogues can act as inhibitors of FTase, while others are effective alternative substrates. We have now utilized our vinyl triflate-mediated route to synthesize the first seven FPP variants bearing substituents in both the 3- and 7-positions of the isoprene unit. Despite their exceptional steric bulk with respect to FPP itself, six of the seven analogues bind to FTase. Two of the analogues are potent inhibitors of the enzyme, but a more striking finding is that three FPP variants (4a, 4b, and 4f) are efficient alternative substrates for FTase.

An efficient method for the synthesis of enol ethers and enecarbamates. Total syntheses of isoindolobenzazepine alkaloids, lennoxamine and chilenine

An efficient method for the synthesis of enol ethers and enecarbamates has been developed based on catalytic hydrosilane reduction of alpha-phosphonoxy enol ethers and alpha-phosphonoxy enecarbamates. This method has been applied to the total syntheses of two isoindolobenzazepine alkaloids, lennoxamine and chilenine.

Competitive inhibition of aristolochene synthase by phenyl-substituted farnesyl diphosphates: evidence of active site plasticity

Analogues of farnesyl diphosphate (FPP, ) containing phenyl substituents in place of methyl groups have been prepared in syntheses that feature use of a Suzuki-Miyaura reaction as a key step. These analogues were found not to act as substrates of the sesquiterpene cyclase aristolochene synthase from Penicillium roqueforti (AS). However, they were potent competitive inhibitors of AS with K(I)-values ranging from 0.8 to 1.2 microM. These results indicate that the diphosphate group contributes the largest part to the binding of the substrate to AS and that the active sites of terpene synthases are sufficiently flexible to accommodate even substrate analogues with large substituents suggesting a potential way for the generation of non-natural terpenoids. Molecular mechanics simulations of the enzyme bound inhibitors suggested that small changes in orientations of active site residues and subtle alterations of the conformation of the backbones of the inhibitors are sufficient to accommodate the phenyl-farnesyl-diphosphates.

Coupling of isoprenoid triflates with organoboron nucleophiles: synthesis and biological evaluation of geranylgeranyl diphosphate analogues

The Suzuki coupling reaction has been used to introduce a methyl group derived from commercially available methylboronic acid into a vinyl triflate. This has led to a concise synthesis of all-trans-geranylgeraniol, with the key step being the palladium-catalyzed, silver-mediated methylation of triflate to give ethyl geranylgeranoate. This coupling protocol has also been used to produce the novel geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) analogue 3-phenyl-3-desmethylgeranylgeranyl diphosphate (3-PhGGPP, ). Our previously developed organocuprate coupling protocol has been used to introduce the cyclopropyl and tert-butyl moieties into the 3-position of vinyl triflate. The four GGPP analogues 3-vinyl-3-desmethylgeranylgeranyl diphosphate (3-vGGPP, ), 3-cyclopropyl-3-desmethylgeranylgeranyl diphosphate (3-cpGGPP, ), 3-tert-butyl-3-desmethyl-geranylgeranyl diphosphate (3-tbGGPP, ), and were then evaluated as potential inhibitors of recombinant yeast protein-geranylgeranyl transferase I (PGGTase I). The potential mechanism-based inhibitors 3-vGGPP and 3-cpGGPP did not exhibit time-dependent inactivation of PGGTase I. Instead, both analogues were alternative substrates, in accord with the interaction of the corresponding farnesyl analogues 3-vFPP and 3-cpFPP with PFTase. The tert-butyl and phenyl analogues were not substrates, but were instead competitive inhibitors of PGGTase I. Note that all four of the GGPP analogues were bound less tightly by the enzyme than the natural substrate, in contrast to the behavior of the 3-substituted FPP analogues.

2-(Acyloxy)ethylphosphonate analogues of prenyl pyrophosphates: synthesis and biological characterization

2-(Acyloxy)ethylphosphonate analogues of geranyl, farnesyl, and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate have been prepared. Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons condensation of different terpene aldehydes with an unsymmetrical bisphosphonate was the key step in syntheses of the phosphonates bearing alpha,beta-unsaturated acyloxy groups. After preparation of the respective phosphonic acids through reaction with TMSBr, both acids and esters were tested for their effects on DNA synthesis in human-derived myeloid and lymphoid leukemia cell lines. The phosphonate esters varied substantially in their ability to impair proliferation of the different cell lines, but testing against one possible target, farnesyl protein transferase (FPTase), revealed little impact at concentrations ranging up to 10 microM. Because the corresponding 2,3-dihydro compounds showed similar biological activity, conjugate addition would not appear to be involved in the toxicity.

Synthesis of prenylated peptides and peptide esters

Modification of the cysteine sulfur in peptides and proteins to a thioether is a recently described posttranslational event that results in the incorporation of farnesyl and geranylgeranyl moieties. The increased lipophilicity accompanying these modifications often causes localization of the resulting protein to the membrane and may be essential for biological activity. Methods are described to chemically and biochemically synthesize farnesylated and geranylgeranylated peptides and proteins from microgram to gram quantities. Conditions for thioalkylation include acidic, neutral, and basic media. The ability to readily form peptidylthioethers will greatly facilitate studies of biologically important proteins and peptides containing isoprenyl moieties.

Cuprate-Mediated Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Cyclopropyl- and tert-Butylfarnesyl Diphosphate Analogs

The novel farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) analog 3-cyclopropyl-3-desmethylfarnesyl diphosphate (3-cpFPP, 1) was designed as a potential mechanism-based inhibitor of the FPP-utilizing enzyme protein-farnesyl transferase (PFTase). The key step in the synthesis of 1 involved the stereoselective coupling of vinyl triflate 8 with a lower order cyclopropyl cyanocuprate to afford the desired cyclopropyl ester 13. The sterically encumbered analog 3-desmethyl-3-tert-butylfarnesyl diphosphate (3-tbFPP, 7) was synthesized via a similar route. The use of the more reactive higher order tert-butyl cyanocuprate led to lower yields of ester 11, the key intermediate in the synthesis of 7. Biological evaluation of 3-cpFPP demonstrates that it is not a time-dependent inhibitor of recombinant yeast PFTase. Instead, 3-cpFPP is an alternative substrate for this enzyme that exhibits a K(m) comparable to FPP and a k(cat) only 5-fold lower than the natural substrate. In contrast, 3-tbFPP is an exceptionally poor substrate for yeast PFTase and acts as an inhibitor of this enzyme.