Sequential dual site-selective protein labelling enabled by lysine modification.

Methods that allow for chemical site-selective dual protein modification are scarce. Here, we provide proof-of-concept for the orthogonality and compatibility of a method for regioselective lysine modification with strategies for protein modification at cysteine and genetically encoded ketone-tagged amino acids. This sequential, orthogonal approach was applied to albumin and a therapeutic antibody to create functional dual site-selectively labelled proteins

A Microfluidic Co-Flow Route for Human Serum Albumin-Drug-Nanoparticle Assembly.

Nanoparticles are widely studied as carrier vehicles in biological systems because their size readily allows access through cellular membranes. Moreover, they have the potential to carry cargo molecules and as such, these factors make them especially attractive for intravenous drug delivery purposes. Interest in protein-based nanoparticles has recently gained attraction due to particle biocompatibility and lack of toxicity. However, the production of homogeneous protein nanoparticles with high encapsulation efficiencies, without the need for additional cross-linking or further engineering of the molecule, remains challenging. Herein, we present a microfluidic 3D co-flow device to generate human serum albumin/celastrol nanoparticles by co-flowing an aqueous protein solution with celastrol in ethanol. This microscale co-flow method resulted in the formation of nanoparticles with a homogeneous size distribution and an average size, which could be tuned from ≈100 nm to 1 μm by modulating the flow rates used. We show that the high stability of the particles stems from the covalent cross-linking of the naturally present cysteine residues within the particles formed during the assembly step. By choosing optimal flow rates during synthesis an encapsulation efficiency of 75±24 % was achieved. Finally, we show that this approach achieves significantly enhanced solubility of celastrol in the aqueous phase and, crucially, reduced cellular toxicity

Precise Installation of Diazo-Tagged Side-Chains on Proteins to Enable In Vitro and In-Cell Site-Specific Labeling.

The chemistry of diazo compounds has generated a huge breadth of applications in the field of organic synthesis. Their versatility combined with their tunable reactivity, stability, and chemoselectivity makes diazo compounds desirable reagents for chemical biologists. Here, we describe a method for the precise installation of diazo handles on proteins and antibodies in a mild and specific approach. Subsequent 1,3-cycloaddition reactions with strained alkynes enable both bioimaging through an in-cell "click" reaction and probing of the cysteine proteome in cell lysates. The selectivity and efficiency of these processes makes these suitable reagents for chemical biology studies

Quaternization of Vinyl/Alkynyl Pyridine enables ultrafast cysteine‐selective protein modification and charge modulation

© 2019 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.Quaternized vinyl- and alkynyl-pyridine reagents were shown to react in an ultrafast and selective manner with several cysteine-tagged proteins at near-stoichiometric quantities. We have demonstrated that this method can effectively create a homogenous antibody-drug conjugate that features a precise drug-to-antibody ratio of 2, which was stable in human plasma and retained its specificity towards Her2+ cells. Finally, the developed warhead introduces a +1 charge to the overall net charge of the protein, which enabled us to show that the electrophoretic mobility of the protein may be tuned through the simple attachment of a quaternized vinyl pyridinium reagent at the cysteine residues. We anticipate the generalized use of quaternized vinyl- and alkynyl-pyridine reagents not only for bioconjugation, but also as warheads for covalent inhibition and as tools to profile cysteine reactivity.Funded under the EU Horizon 2020 Programme, Marie Skłodowska-Curie ITN GA No. 675007, the Royal Society (UF110046 and URF\R\180019 to G.J.L.B.), FCT Portugal (iFCT IF/00624/2015 to G.J.L.B. and PhD studentship SFRH/BD/115932/2016 to A.G.), Xunta de Galicia (Galician Plan of research, innovation and growth 2011–2015, ED481B 2014/086-0 and ED481B 2018/007 to M.J.M.), D.G.I. MINECO/FEDER (grants CTQ2015-70524-R and RYC-2013–14706 to G.J.-O. and C.D.N and CTQ2015-67727-R to F.C.), Universidad de la Rioja (FPI PhD studentship to I.C.), FAPESP (BEPE 2015/07509-1 and 2017/13168-8 to B.B.), and by an ERC StG (GA No. 676832).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

New methodologies in organic synthesis using the Wolff rearrangement from unsaturated diazoketones

Entre os diferentes tipos de substratos diazocarbonílicos encontrados na literatura, as diazocetonas α,β-insaturadas têm mostrado promissoras aplicações como intermediários multifuncionais. Este trabalho de tese foi dividido em três capítulos e visou expandir as aplicações das diazocetonas α,β-insaturadas em química e bioquímica. No primeiro capítulo, as diazocetonas foram apresentadas como plataformas para a síntese direta de amidas e ésteres β,γ-insaturados via Rearranjo de Wolff. Quando diazocetonas derivadas de amino-aldeídos foram utilizadas, isósteros peptídicos foram obtidos como demonstrado na síntese rápida e eficiente do nitróxido JP4-039. No mesmo capítulo, um estudo aprofundado comprovando a eficiência de diferentes lâmpadas comerciais (CFL e LED) para promover o Rearranjo de Wolff é apresentado, representando uma alternativa sustentável. O segundo capítulo é voltado a expansão da química das diazocetonas insaturadas para o estudo de reações de cicloadição [2+2] e [4+2]. Foi demonstrado o preparo dos ésteres precursores para reações de cicloadições via rearranjo de Wolff na presença de álcoois alílicos e as tentativas que culimaram na síntese de um cicloaduto de Diels-Alder. O capítulo 3 foi dedicado ao emprego das diazocetonas α,β-insaturadas para a modificação química específica de proteínas. As diazocetonas foram aplicadas com sucesso para este fim, assim como inspiraram o desenvolvimento de um novo método promissor de bioconjugacão seletiva para cisteínas.Among the various types of diazocarbonyl substrates found in the literature, α,β-unsaturated diazoketones have shown a number of promising applications as multifunctional intermediates. This thesis is divided into three chapters, aimed at expanding the reactivity of such α,β-unsaturated diazoketones for synthetic chemistry and chemical biology applications. In the first chapter, diazoketones are presented as platforms for the direct synthesis of β,γ-unsaturated amides and esters via a Wolff rearrangement reaction. When diazoketones derived from amino-aldehyde are substrates, peptidic isosters are obtained, as demonstrated in the efficient synthesis of the nitroxide drug, JP4-039. In the same chapter, a study demonstrating the efficiency of several commercial light sources (CFL and LED) to promote the Wolff rearrangement was described, representing a sustainable alternative to UV lamps for this interesting reaction. The second chapter sought to expand the chemistry of unsaturated diazoketones for the study of [2 + 2] and [4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions. The preparation of the precursor esters for cycloaddition reaction was demonstrated by the Wolff rearrangement of precursors in the presence of allylic alcohols, and the attempt then culminated in the synthesis of a Diels-Alder cycloadduct. Chapter 3 was devoted to the use of α,β-unsaturated diazoketones for the site-specific chemical modification of proteins. These have been successfully demonstrated for this purpose, as well as inspiring the development of a promising new method for selective bioconjugation of cysteines

Synthesis of dihydroxylated indolizidines and quinolizidines from α,β-unsaturated diazoketones

Alcaloides indolizidínicos, quinolizidínicos e piperidínicos poliidroxilados representam classes de compostos amplamente investigados atualmente. Este fato se deve às pronunciadas atividades biológicas como inibidores de glicosidases expressadas por estes heterociclos, o que significa um grande atrativo para que muitos grupos de pesquisas desenvolvam metodologias sintéticas para a sua obtenção de forma efetiva e em poucas etapas. Neste trabalho de dissertação é apresentada uma rota sintética para a preparação de alcaloides indolizidínicos e quinolizidínicos diidroxilados a partir de diazocetonas α,β-insaturadas. A estratégia para a síntese destes alcaloides baseia-se na mesma metodologia, tendo como etapas chaves: uma reação de olefinação de Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) a partir de aminoaldeídos, seguida de um Rearranjo de Wolff. Como material de partida para o esqueleto indolizidínico foi empregado o Cbz-S-prolinal. Este aminoaldeído foi empregado como fonte do centro estereogênico e de um dos anéis presentes na estrutura final. O acoplamento (reação de HWE) entre o Cbz-S-prolinal e um diazofosfonato recentemente descrito por nosso grupo de pesquisa forneceu um composto diazocarbonílico α,β-insaturado (67%), que em seguida, foi submetido a um rearranjo de Wolff fornecendo um éster β,γ-insaturado (96%). Este intermediário avançado foi funcionalizado através de uma reação de diidroxilação, a qual forneceu uma lactona (66%). A síntese foi completada através de uma reação de ciclização intramolecular (94%) seguida de uma reação de redução para fornecer a indolizidina diidroxilada em 71% de rendimento. Para o esqueleto quinolizidínico, foi empregado o aminoaldeído racêmico Cbz-(±)-pipecolinal como material de partida. A partir da reação de olefinação, foi obtida uma diazocetona α,β-insaturada (91%), que após Rearranjo de Wolff (95%), diidroxilação (75%), ciclização (54-74%) e reação de redução (87-90%), forneceu duas novas quinolizidinas diidroxiladas. Estes alcaloides indolizidínicos e quinolizidínicos poderão ser avaliados como inibidores de glicosidases.Polyhydroxylated Indolizidine, quinolizidine and piperidine alkaloids represent classes of compounds widely investigated in the chemical community. This fact is due to their pronounced biological activities as glycosidase inhibitors. Considering that, many research groups have been developing new synthetic methodologies to obtain these alkaloids and analogs effectively and in few steps. This work presents a synthetic route for the preparation of dihydroxylated indolizidine and quinolizidine alkaloids from α,β-unsaturated diazoketones. The strategy for the synthesis of these compounds is based on the same methodology to construct the indolizidine and quinolizidine skeleton. The key steps involve a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) olefination reaction from aminoaldehydes, followed by a Wolff Rearrangement. As the starting material to construct the indolizidine skeleton, Cbz-S-prolinal was employed. This aminoaldehyde is also the source of the stereogenic center and one of the rings present in the final structure. The coupling reaction (HWE reaction) between Cbz-S-prolinal and a diazophosphonate (methodology recently described by our research group) has provided an α,β-unsaturated diazoketone in 67% yield. This compound was then subjected to a Wolff Rearrangement, providing a β,γ-unsaturated ester in 96% yield. This advanced intermediate was functionalized through a high selective dihydroxylation reaction, furnishing a hydroxylated lactone in 66% yield. The synthesis was then completed employing an intramolecular cyclization reaction (94% yield), followed by lactam reduction to provide the dihydroxylated indolizidine (1,6-dideoxyepicastanospermine) in 71% yield. For the construction of the quinolizidine skeleton, was employed racemic Cbz-pipecolinal as the starting material. From the olefination reaction, the corresponding α,β-unsaturated diazoketone was obtained in 91% yield. After a Wolff Rearrangement (95%), dihydroxylation reaction (75%), cyclization (54-74%) and lactam reduction (87-90%), two novel dihydroxylated quinolizidines could be synthesized. These indolizidine and quinolizidine alkaloids may be evaluated as new inhibitors of glycosidases

alpha,beta-Unsaturated Diazoketones as Platforms in the Asymmetric Synthesis of Hydroxylated Alkaloids. Total Synthesis of 1-Deoxy-8,8a-diepicastanospermine and 1,6-Dideoxyepicastanospermine and Formal Synthesis of Pumiliotoxin 251D

A versatile and concise approach for the stereoselective synthesis of mono-, di-, and trihydroxylated indolizidines is presented in four to six steps from Cbz-prolinal and a diazophosphonate. The key steps involved a Wolff rearrangement, followed by a stereoselective dihydroxylation/epoxidation reaction, from an alpha,beta-unsaturated diazoketone. The strategy also permits extension to the synthesis of many natural hydroxylated indolizidine alkaloids as demonstrated in the formal synthesis of pumiliotoxin 251D.FAPESP (Research Supporting Foundation of the State of Sao Paulo)FAPESP (Research Supporting Foundation of the State of Sao Paulo) [2012/04685-5, 2008/09653-9]CNPq [307905/2009-8, 160428/2011-4]CNP

α,β-Unsaturated Diazoketones as Platforms in the Asymmetric Synthesis of Hydroxylated Alkaloids. Total Synthesis of 1‑Deoxy-8,8a-diepicastanospermine and 1,6-Dideoxyepicastanospermine and Formal Synthesis of Pumiliotoxin 251D

A versatile and concise approach for the stereoselective synthesis of mono-, di-, and trihydroxylated indolizidines is presented in four to six steps from Cbz-prolinal and a diazophosphonate. The key steps involved a Wolff rearrangement, followed by a stereoselective dihydroxylation/epoxidation reaction, from an α,β-unsaturated diazoketone. The strategy also permits extension to the synthesis of many natural hydroxylated indolizidine alkaloids as demonstrated in the formal synthesis of pumiliotoxin 251D

Cathepsin B Processing Is Required for the In Vivo Efficacy of Albumin-Drug Conjugates.

Publication status: PublishedTargeted drug delivery approaches that selectively and preferentially deliver therapeutic agents to specific tissues are of great interest for safer and more effective pharmaceutical treatments. We investigated whether cathepsin B cleavage of a valine-citrulline [VC(S)]-containing linker is required for the release of monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) from albumin-drug conjugates. In this study, we used an engineered version of human serum albumin, Veltis High Binder II (HBII), which has enhanced binding to the neonatal Fc (fragment crystallizable) receptor (FcRn) to improve drug release upon binding and FcRn-mediated recycling. The linker-payload was conjugated to cysteine 34 of albumin using a carbonylacrylic (caa) reagent which produced homogeneous and plasma stable conjugates that retained FcRn binding. Two caa-linker-MMAE reagents were synthesized─one with a cleavable [VC(S)] linker and one with a noncleavable [VC(R)] linker─to question whether protease-mediated cleavage is needed for MMAE release. Our findings demonstrate that cathepsin B is required to achieve efficient and selective antitumor activity. The conjugates equipped with the cleavable [VC(S)] linker had potent antitumor activity in vivo facilitated by the release of free MMAE upon FcRn binding and internalization. In addition to the pronounced antitumor activity of the albumin conjugates in vivo, we also demonstrated their preferable tumor biodistribution and biocompatibility with no associated toxicity or side effects. These results suggest that the use of engineered albumins with high FcRn binding combined with protease cleavable linkers is an efficient strategy to target delivery of drugs to solid tumors