Solid-phase synthesis of HTLV-1 protease inhibitors containing hydroxyethylamine dipeptide isostere

The Effects of Side-Chain Configurations of a Retro-Inverso-Type Inhibitor on the Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus (HTLV)-1 Protease

In this study, the effects of side-chain configurations of D-Ile residues of a retro–inverso (RI)-type inhibitor on the human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) protease containing a hydroxyethylamine dipeptide isostere were clarified. Prior to evaluation using the RI-type inhibitor, the effects of side-chain configurations of Ile residues of the substrate peptide on the HTLV-1 protease were examined to estimate the influence of side-chain configurations on enzyme activity. Based on the estimation of the influence of side-chain configurations on protease affinity, the RI-type inhibitors containing a D-allo-Ile residue in the corresponding substrate sequence, instead of a D-Ile residue, were synthesized via 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl-based solid-phase peptide synthesis. Refolded recombinant HTLV-1 protease (1-116, L40I) was used for the simple and short evaluation of the inhibitory activities of the synthesized RI-type inhibitors. The results clearly indicated that mimicking the whole topology, comprising both the main- and side-chain structures of the parent inhibitor, is effective for the design of potent RI-modified protease inhibitors.

Structure-activity relationship study of hydroxyethylamine isostere and P1' site structure of peptide mimetic BACE1 inhibitors

An aromatic substituent has been introduced into a known hydroxyethylamine (HEA)-type BACE1 inhibitor containing the superior substrate sequence to enhance inhibitory activity. The HEA-type isosteres bearing different hydroxyl group and methyl group configurations were prepared through a branched synthesis approach using intra- and inter-molecular epoxide opening reactions. The effect of their configuration was evaluated, showing that an R-configuration improved the inhibitory activity, while introduction of a methyl group on the isostere decreased the activity. Based on the non-substituted isostere with an R-configuration, 21 derivatives containing various substituents at the P1' site were synthesized. Our evaluation of the derivatives showed that the structure of the P1' site had a clear effect on activity, and highly potent inhibitor 40g, which showed sub-micromolar activity against recombinant BACE1 (rBACE1), was identified. The docking simulation of 40g with rBACE1 suggested that a carboxymethyl group at the para-position of the P1' benzene ring interacted with Lys285 in the S1' pocket.

[Studies on Functional Molecules Based on Peptide Chemistry]

Studies on functional molecules starting from syntheses of cysteine-containing peptides and protein are described. Starting from evaluation of a cysteine specific side-reaction, a specific reaction for disulfide-bond formation was developed. The reaction made it possible to independently construct a disulfide bridge without effecting the existing disulfide bonds, which resulted in a unique approach for the synthesis of human insulin by site-specific disulfide bond formation. In a series of studies on sulfur-containing amino acids, another cysteine related un-natural amino acid, α-methyl cysteine, was used for the total syntheses of natural products containing a unique thiazorine/thiazole ring system. Chloroimidazolidium coupling reagent developed by us was effective for the successive couplings of the α-methyl cysteine residues. Based on these synthetic studies, design and evaluation of protease inhibitors were then studied, since a stereo-specific synthesis of the key structure is crucial to make the inhibitor an effective functional molecule in the interactions with its target protease. As the target proteases, β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) and chymotrypsin-like protease of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS 3CL protease) were selected: the former is a crucial enzyme for amyloid β production and the latter is an essential enzyme for the re-construction of SARS corona virus in host cells. Structure optimization procedure of the respective inhibitors are described based on X-ray crystal structure analyses of the inhibitor-protease complex.

Highly Stereoselective Asymmetric Aldol Routes to tert-Butyl-2-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-oxiran-2-yl)ethyl)carbamates: Building Blocks for Novel Protease Inhibitors

Enantioselective syntheses of tert-butyl ((S)-2-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-((S)-oxiran-2-yl)ethyl)carbamate and ((S)-2-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-((R)-oxiran-2-yl)ethyl)carbamate are described. We utilized asymmetric syn- and anti-aldol reactions to set both stereogenic centers. We investigated ester-derived Ti-enolate aldol reactions as well as Evans' diastereoselective syn-aldol reaction for these syntheses. We have converted optically active ((S)-2-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-((S)-oxiran-2-yl)ethyl)carbamate to a potent β-secretase inhibitor.

Further studies toward the stereocontrolled synthesis of silicon-containing peptide mimics

Further studies are reported on the utilization of the versatile reaction between chiral sulfinimines and alkyldiphenylsilyl lithium reagents with the goal of preparing a wide range of silanediol-based protease inhibitors. In particular, focus has been placed to demonstrate how a number of genetically encoded amino acid side chains such as serine, threonine, tyrosine, lysine, proline, arginine, aspartate and asparagine might be incorporated into the overall approach. Efforts to apply this synthetic methodology for accessing biologically relevant silanediol dipeptide mimics are also described. This includes the synthesis of a potential inhibitor of the human neutrophil elastase, as well as a diphenylsilane mimic of a hexapeptide fragment of the human islet amyloid polypeptide.

Evaluations of substrate specificity and inhibition at PR/p3 cleavage site of HTLV-1 protease

Core sequences necessary for substrate recognition and its inhibition at the PR/p3 site of HTLV-1 protease were clarified for the first time. From the cleavage rates of peptides containing a part of the PR/p3 site, a heptapeptide was found to be the minimal sequence required for substrate recognition. The use of synthetic inhibitors containing hydroxyethylamine dipeptide isostere indicated that a tetrapeptide sequence was necessary to achieve potent inhibition.

Solid-Phase Syntheses of Olefin-Containing Inhibitors for HTLV-1 Protease Using the Horner−Emmons Reaction

[reaction: see text] The solid-phase Horner-Emmons reaction was successfully applied for the convenient syntheses of olefin-containing protease inhibitors. The isomerization during the solid-phase Horner-Emmons reaction can be minimized simply by the use of an appropriate amount of the base. The synthesized olefin peptides, which have an olefin gamma-amino acid at the scissile site, were found to act as effective inhibitors for the HTLV-1 protease for the first time.

Identification of peptidomimetic HTLV-I protease inhibitors containing hydroxymethylcarbonyl (HMC) isostere as the transition-state mimic

Towards the development of chemotherapy for the infection by human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I), we have established evaluation systems for HTLV-I protease (PR) inhibitors using both recombinant and chemically synthesized HTLV-I PRs. Newly synthesized substrate-based inhibitors containing hydroxymethylcarbonyl (HMC) isostere showed potent anti-HTLV-I PR activity.

Convergent Approach to (E)-Alkene and Cyclopropane Peptide Isosteres

Trisubstituted (E)-alkene isosteres (TEADIs) and novel cyclopropane amide bond isosteres (CPDIs) were synthesized by aldimine addition and three-component aldimine addition-cyclopropanation methodologies, respectively. These new peptide mimetics can serve as beta-turn promoters.