Synthesis and 19F spectra of tetra-L-alanine analogs containing selectively incorporated 3-fluoro-L-alanine residues

Monofluoroalkene-Isostere as a 19 F NMR Label for the Peptide Backbone: Synthesis and Evaluation in Membrane-Bound PGLa and (KIGAKI)3

Solid-state ¹⁹ F NMR is a powerful method to study the interactions of biologically active peptides with membranes. So far, in labelled peptides, the ¹⁹ F-reporter group has always been installed on the side chain of an amino acid. Given the fact that monofluoroalkenes are non-hydrolyzable peptide bond mimics, we have synthesized a monofluoroalkene-based dipeptide isostere, Val-Ψ[(Z)-CF=CH]-Gly, and inserted it in the sequence of two well-studied antimicrobial peptides: PGLa and (KIGAKI)₃ are representatives of an α-helix and a β-sheet. The conformations and biological activities of these labeled peptides were studied to assess the suitability of monofluoroalkenes for ¹⁹ F NMR structure analysis.

Fluorinated amino acids: compatibility with native protein structures and effects on protein-protein interactions

Fluorinated analogues of the canonical α-L-amino acids have gained widespread attention as building blocks that may endow peptides and proteins with advantageous biophysical, chemical and biological properties. This critical review covers the literature dealing with investigations of peptides and proteins containing fluorinated analogues of the canonical amino acids published over the course of the past decade including the late nineties. It focuses on side-chain fluorinated amino acids, the carbon backbone of which is identical to their natural analogues. Each class of amino acids--aliphatic, aromatic, charged and polar as well as proline--is presented in a separate section. General effects of fluorine on essential properties such as hydrophobicity, acidity/basicity and conformation of the specific side chains and the impact of these altered properties on stability, folding kinetics and activity of peptides and proteins are discussed (245 references).

(2R)- and (2S)-3-Fluoroalanine and TheirN-Methyl Derivatives: Synthesis and Incorporation in Peptide Scaffolds

A convergent synthetic methodology has been developed to access both (2S)- and (2R)-3-fluoroalanine and their corresponding N-methyl analogues, in optically pure form, through a common oxazolidinone intermediate that can be obtained from L- or D-serine. In addition, a procedure for incorporation of these unnatural amino acids in peptide scaffolds is also disclosed herein that minimizes the occurrence of beta-elimination during amide bond formation. [reaction: see text]

Synthesis of [18F]fluoroalanine and [18F]fluorotamoxifen for imaging breast tumors

To develop ligands for imaging breast tumors, [18F]fluoro analogue of tamoxifen and [18F]fluoroalanine were radiosynthesized. In vivo biodistribution studies were performed in mammary tumor-bearing rats. In studies on the biodistribution of an [18F]fluoro analogue of tamoxifen, tumor uptake decreased when rats were pretreated with diethylstilbestrol (DES), suggesting that tracer uptake in tumors was receptor-mediated. An estrogen receptor assay indicated that tumors have a receptor density of 7.5 fmol/mg protein. Studies of the distribution of [18F]fluoroalanine in tissue showed that the tumor-to-tissue ratio increases as a function of time. Positron emission tomography (PET) images of tumor-bearing rats demonstrated that tumors can be visualized 1 h after rats are injected with an [18F]fluoro analogue of tamoxifen. PET imaging of pigs after injection of 10 mCi of [18F]fluoro analogue of tamoxifen showed uterine uptake that could be blocked by DES (50 mg). The findings suggest that both radiotracers are useful for imaging breast tumors.