Synthesis Of Non-natural Amino Acids Research Articles

Robust, site-specifically immobilized phenylalanine ammonia-lyases for the enantioselective ammonia addition of cinnamic acids.

Phenylalanine ammonia-lyases (PALs) catalyse the non-oxidative deamination of l-phenylalanine to trans-cinnamic acid, while in the presence of high ammonia concentration, the synthetically attractive reverse reaction occurs. Although they have been intensively studied, the wider application of PALs for the large scale synthesis of non-natural amino acids is still rather limited, mainly due to the decreased operational stability of PALs under the high ammonia concentration conditions of ammonia addition. Herein, we describe the development of a highly stable and active immobilized PAL-biocatalyst obtained through site-specific covalent immobilization onto single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), employing maleimide/thiol coupling of engineered enzymes containing surficial Cys residues. The immobilization method afforded robust biocatalysts (by strong covalent attachment to the support) and allowed modulation of enzymatic activity (by proper selection of binding site, controlling the orientation of the enzyme attached to the support). The novel biocatalysts were investigated in PAL-catalyzed reactions, focusing on the synthetically challenging ammonia addition reaction. The optimization of the immobilization (enzyme load) and reaction conditions (substrate : biocatalyst ratio, ammonia source, reaction temperature) involving the best performing biocatalyst SWCNTNH2-SS-PcPAL was performed. The biocatalyst, under the optimal reaction conditions, showed high catalytic efficiency, providing excellent conversion (c ∼90% in 10 h) of cinnamic acid into l-Phe, and more importantly, possesses high operational stability, maintaining its high efficiency over >7 reaction cycles. Moreover, the site-specifically immobilized PcPAL L134A/S614C and PcPAL I460V/S614C variants were successfully applied in the synthesis of several l-phenylalanine analogues of high synthetic value, providing perspectives for the efficient replacement of classical synthetic methods for l-phenylalanines with a mild, selective and eco-friendly enzymatic alternative.

Phenylalanine Ammonia Lyase Catalyzed Synthesis of Amino Acids by an MIO‐Cofactor Independent Pathway

Phenylalanine ammonia lyases (PALs) belong to a family of 4-methylideneimidazole-5-one (MIO) cofactor dependent enzymes which are responsible for the conversion of L-phenylalanine into trans-cinnamic acid in eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. Under conditions of high ammonia concentration, this deamination reaction is reversible and hence there is considerable interest in the development of PALs as biocatalysts for the enantioselective synthesis of non-natural amino acids. Herein the discovery of a previously unobserved competing MIO-independent reaction pathway, which proceeds in a non-stereoselective manner and results in the generation of both L- and D-phenylalanine derivatives, is described. The mechanism of the MIO-independent pathway is explored through isotopic-labeling studies and mutagenesis of key active-site residues. The results obtained are consistent with amino acid deamination occurring by a stepwise E1 cB elimination mechanism.

Forced evolution of Escherichia coli cells with the ability to effectively utilize non-natural amino acids l-tert-leucine, l-norleucine and γ-methyl-l-leucine

In an attempt to develop a novel biocatalyst able to efficiently catalyse the synthesis of non-natural amino acids, Escherichia coli TG1 was treated with 10 mM NaNO2 and then cultured in selective medium supplemented with 20 mM l-tert-leucine. Each culture was grown for 2 weeks and then subcultured into fresh medium with successive decreases of l-tert-leucine concentration at each transfer to a final value of 0.5 mM. The adapted cells resulting from this forced evolution procedure were able to grow in minimal medium with 0.1 mM l-tert-leucine as sole nitrogen source. Both HPLC and TLC verified progressive removal of l-tert-leucine from the medium during bacterial growth. Further studies revealed that the adapted cells metabolized l-tert-leucine by transamination, removing the amino group but leaving the carbon skeleton of the corresponding 2-oxoacid intact. Despite the mutagenesis, when the four obvious candidate amino acid aminotransferase genes were cloned and sequenced, there was no change in these structural genes. The activity of the adapted cells with l-tert-leucine is apparently attributable to the wild-type branched-chain amino acid aminotransferase (IlvAT), presumably expressed at higher levels as a result of a regulatory mutation. With the isolate I-4, the resting cells transaminate l-tert-leucine, l-norleucine, l-norvaline, γ-methyl-l-leucine and dl-homophenylalanine as effectively as does the crude extract. These evolved cells may be useful for synthesizing non-natural amino acids for the pharmaceutical industry. In addition, the adapted cells can also catalyse transamination of naturally occurring hydrophobic amino acids.

Ethynylglycine synthon from Garner’s aldehyde: a useful precursor for the synthesis of non-natural amino acids

The ethynylglycine synthon, namely (R)-2,2-dimethyl-3-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-ethynyl-oxazolidine, can be obtained through the synthetic elaboration of naturally occurring serine. This compound has been exploited as a helpful and versatile non-racemic building block to be used for the design and synthesis of biologically important compounds, mainly non-natural alpha-amino acids. Taking advantage of the terminal acetylene moiety several synthetic applications can be designed. Metalation followed by trapping with electrophiles or Cu/Pd catalysed coupling with aromatic halogenides are shown to deliver useful precursors of ethynylglycine derivatives. Additions of bimetallic reagents like stannyl- or silylcuprates are useful entries for the regio- and stereoselective functionalization of the lateral chain, aimed at the synthesis of modified vinylglycine precursors. An overview of our recent work in the field will be given, and the use of ethynylglycine synthon in the synthesis of non-racemic saturated and unsaturated non-natural amino acids will be briefly reviewed.

Synthesis of Non-Natural Amino Acids Based on the Ruthenium-Catalysed Oxidation of a Phenyl Group to Carboxylic Acid

An efficient method for the synthesis of enantiopure β-, γ-, and δ-amino acids with proteinogenic side chains, starting from natural α-amino acids, was developed. The method is based on the ruthenium-catalyzed oxidation of a phenyl group to a carboxylic acid. β-Amino acids may be prepared starting from Boc-phenylalaninol. The route described for the synthesis of γ- and δ-amino acids permits the insertion of any chain length between the amino and carboxy functionalities as a result of the original choice of the starting ylide chain length.

Enantioselective synthesis of non-natural amino acids using phenylalanine dehydrogenases modified by site-directed mutagenesis.

The substrate scope of three mutants of phenylalanine dehydrogenase as biocatalysts for the transformation of a series of 2-oxo acids, structurally related to phenylpyruvic acid, to the analogous alpha-amino acids, non-natural analogues of phenylalanine, has been investigated. The mutant enzymes are more tolerant than the wild type enzyme of the non-natural substrates, especially those with substituents at the 4-position on the phenyl ring. Excellent enantiocontrol resulted in all cases.

Catalytic, enantioselective alkylation of alpha-imino esters: the synthesis of nonnatural alpha-amino acid derivatives.

Methodology for the practical synthesis of nonnatural amino acids has been developed through the catalytic, asymmetric alkylation of alpha-imino esters and N,O-acetals by enol silanes, ketene acetals, alkenes, and allylsilanes using chiral transition metal-phosphine complexes as catalysts (1-5 mol %). The alkylation products, which are prepared with high enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee) and diastereoselectivity (up to 25:1/anti:syn), are protected nonnatural amino acids that represent potential precursors to natural products and pharmaceuticals. A kinetic analysis of the catalyzed reaction of alkenes with alpha-imino esters is presented to shed light on the mechanism of this reaction.

Diastereoselective Synthesis of β2-Amino Acids

As part of an ongoing project concerning the synthesis of nonnatural amino acids, we have now developed a general strategy for the preparation of β2-amino acids (or 2-aminocarboxylic acid derivatives). Our procedure involves the synthesis of the sultam β-alaninate precursor 5 whose alkylation led with high yields and excellent diastereoselectivity to the precursor of β2-homophenylalanine, β2-homoalanine, and β2-homoleucine. Subsequent deprotection and Boc-protection yielded the expected β2-amino acids. X-ray analysis of the alkylation product established that (−)-sultam yielded (R)-β2-amino acids, conversely (+)-sultam yielded the enantiomer. The topicity of this alkylation is in agreement with the alkylation of Oppolzer's precursor for the synthesis of α-amino acids and opposite to that observed for gem-dialkylation.

Synthesis of ( S)- N- tert-butoxycarbonyl- N, O-isopropylidene-α-methylserinal: A potential building block for the asymmetric synthesis of non-natural amino acids

The title compound ( S)- α-methylserinal acetonide has been efficiently prepared from ( S)- α-methylserine, which is readily available in enantiomerically pure form by Curtius rearrangement of α,α-dialkyl 2-cyanoesters obtained by diastereoselective alkylation of (1 S,2 R,4 R)-10-dicyclohexylsulfamoylisobornyl 2-cyanopropanoate using methoxymethyl iodide or paraformaldehyde as electrophiles by an extension of our recently developed methodology for the synthesis of α,α-dialkylamino acids.