An enzymatic protecting group strategy for the synthesis of nucleopeptides

Wheat germ lipase: isolation, purification and applications

In recent years, wheat germ lipase (WGL) is attracting considerable interest. To date, several WGL applications have already been described: (i) fats and oils modification; (ii) esterification reactions in organic media, accepting a wide range of acids and alcohols as substrates; (iii) the asymmetric resolution of various chiral racemic intermediates; (iv) more recently, the promiscuous activity of WGL has been shown in carbon-carbon bond formation. To date, no crystallographic structure of this enzyme has been published, which means its activity, catalytic potential and substrate scope is being assessed empirically. Therefore, new catalytic activities of this enzyme are constantly being discovered. Taking into account the emergency and the current interest in environmentally sustainable processes, this review aims to highlight the origin, isolation, stabilization by immobilization and applications of the wheat germ lipase.HIGHLIGHTSWheat germ as an inexpensive source of biocatalystsWheat germ lipase an efficient catalyst for various chemical transformationsWheat germ lipase in food productionIndustrial applications of wheat germ lipaseWheat germ lipase as a promiscuous biocatalystImmobilization of wheat germ lipase as a method of stabilization.

Peptide conjugates as tools for the study of biological signal transduction

Today, many biological phenomena are being investigated and understood in molecular detail, and organic chemistry is increasingly being directed towards biological phenomena. This review is intended to highlight this interplay of organic chemistry and biology, using biological signal transduction as an example. Lipo-, glyco-, phospho- and nucleoproteins play key roles in the processes whereby chemical signals are passed across cell membranes and further to the cell nucleus. For the study of the biological phenomena associated with these protein conjugates, structurally well-defined peptides containing the characteristic linkage region of the peptide backbone with the lipid, the carbohydrate or the phosphoric acid ester can provide valuable tools. The multi-functionality and pronounced acid- and base-lability of such compounds renders their synthesis a formidable challenge to conventional organic synthesis. However, the recent development of enzymatic protecting groups, provides one of the central techniques which, when coupled with classic chemical synthesis, can provide access to these complex and sensitive biologically relevant peptide conjugates under particularly mild conditions and with high selectivity.